NTSB report reveals cannabis use by Piedmont Airlines ramp agent before fatal engine incident

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its final report on a December 2022 incident involving a Piedmont Airlines ramp agent who was ingested by an engine of an Embraer E175 in Montgomery, Alabama. The report highlights that the ramp agent had medical conditions, including multiple sclerosis and diabetes, and had used a cannabis product prior to the incident. Investigators found that the ramp agent was trained in safety procedures but failed to follow them, remaining too close to the operating engine. The NTSB noted that the ramp agent's cognitive impairment, possibly exacerbated by her medical conditions and cannabis use, likely contributed to her poor judgment. The report also pointed out that ramp personnel are not classified as safety-sensitive by the Department of Transportation, meaning Piedmont Airlines was not required to conduct drug testing. This lack of testing may have prevented the detection of the ramp agent's cannabis use before the incident.