When we go to work in the morning, it is with the understanding that we are going to do our job and then come home in the evening. It is always a sad occasion when somebody is not able to come home.
Unfortunately, that is what happened to a baggage handler who was only 26 years old. She was working near a baggage conveyor belt at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport when her hair got entangled in the machine.
That woman, Jermani Thompson was pronounced dead by the Jefferson Parish coroner’s office. She had suffered severe injuries while unloading luggage from an airline flight around 10 in the evening.
According to Sky News, she was able to be transported to the hospital but she died. The chief executive officer for ground support at the airline told NOLA, “We are heartbroken and are supporting her family and her friends as best as we are able.”
He then went on to say that her fatal injuries were caused when her hair became entangled in the baggage conveyor belt.
A frontiers airline flight was canceled the next morning as a result of the accident. All other flights are back on schedule.
Kevin Dolliole, Director of Aviation at the international airport, told WDSU:
“We are deeply saddened about the tragic loss of GAT Airline Ground Support team member, Jermani Thompson. The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport extends its sincere condolences to her family and friends, and also to our partners at GAT and Fontier Airlines.
“Jermani was a part of our Airport family, and we will continue to support one another in any way we can during this trying time.”
Many people have been on Facebook to share their condolences with the family. Her mother said: “So I didn’t have ‘normal’ summers growing up. Like hanging out with friends and family and going on family vacation. I was always playing travel basketball so of course my [teammates] were who I spent summers with growing up and they were my family.”
The post continued: “And even though we got older and some of us may have grown apart we always knew and know that we were and will always be family. Definitely appreciate the memories we had every summer we all played together. RIP Jermani Thompson [sic].”
The high school basketball coach also shared a tribute, saying that her heart was shattered for her family and friends, for her coworkers, and for the world.
Our thoughts are with the family and friends during this difficult time.