The Salt Lake City International Airport was the site of a tragic incident on the night of January 1st. Now, new information is being shared with the public.
Kyler Efinger, a 30-year-old man, lost his life after entering the tarmac through an emergency exit and onto a jet engine turbine. The shocking footage obtained from security cameras at the airport has shed light on the events leading up to this unfortunate incident. As investigators work to determine the cause of Efinger’s death, his family believes it was a result of a mental health crisis.
At around 9:52 p.m. that day, a store manager inside the airport reported a disturbance involving Efinger, who was on the secured side of the terminal. Airport control later informed the police that Efinger had gone through an emergency exit door. The newly released security camera footage reveals Efinger’s erratic behavior as he attempted to open locked doors, interacted with a custodian, and used his shoes to hit a window. Eventually, he managed to kick open an emergency exit door and ran down the stairwell towards the tarmac.
One of the most chilling moments captured on the footage is a thermal imaging camera recording that shows Efinger running towards a plane that was slowly taxiing on the tarmac. Unfortunately, the video cuts out before he reaches the aircraft, leaving the sequence of events leading to his death shrouded in mystery.
The cause of Efinger’s death has not yet been released, and investigations are ongoing. The Salt Lake City Department of Airports has provided dozens of other clips, spanning from Efinger’s arrival at the airport to his journey through security, walking through the terminal, approaching the gate, and ultimately running away from it, abandoning his belongings. FOX 13 News will be reviewing this extensive footage, potentially releasing more details as they emerge.
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The Mental Health Crisis:
Efinger’s family has revealed that he was scheduled to fly to Denver to visit his sick grandfather but experienced an unspecified episode that led to him breaching the airport security door. They believe this incident was a result of his ongoing struggle with mental health.
Efinger’s father, Judd Efinger, also spoke of his son’s previous manic phases and the unfortunate outcome of this particular episode, stating, “Those just don’t end well for him. Obviously, this one, the worst ever.”
The tragic death of Kyler Efinger at the Salt Lake City International Airport has left many questions unanswered. As more information becomes available, it is hoped that a clearer understanding of this heartbreaking incident will emerge, leading to better safety measures and support systems within airports.