DERBY, Kansas — A tragic incident claimed the life of a 37-year-old Kansas photographer, Amanda Gallagher, who was fatally injured after inadvertently stepping into a plane’s spinning propeller while attempting to take photos, authorities reported.
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Gallagher, a professional photographer, had been onboard the plane on Saturday afternoon to capture photos of skydivers. Once the skydivers exited, Gallagher remained on the plane as it descended back to Air Capital Drop Zone, located just outside Wichita, according to officials from the facility.
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Upon landing, the Cessna 182 remained grounded but operational as a new group of jumpers prepared to board, according to information from the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
“For unknown reasons… she moved in front of the wing, a violation of basic safety procedures,” Air Capital Drop Zone stated. Gallagher had her camera raised to take photos and inadvertently backed into the plane’s spinning propeller.
Gallagher was immediately transported to a nearby hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries, according to authorities.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are conducting a formal investigation into the incident.
