How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 67 severe cases involving powered fixed-wing aircraft over the past decade. These incidents frequently result in amputations and fractures, which together account for 66% of all reported injury types.
The severity of these injuries is underscored by the high frequency of finger amputations and lower-body fractures. You often face long-term disability due to the high-energy nature of aircraft machinery and the heights involved in maintenance tasks.
How these injuries happen
Injuries involving aircraft are most often driven by falls to lower levels, which account for 32% of all reported cases. You frequently suffer these injuries while accessing wings, cargo bays, or maintenance platforms. Other common mechanisms include being struck by rolling equipment or becoming compressed between running aircraft components and stationary objects during routine service.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Other fall to lower level | 21 |
| 2 | Struck by rolling powered vehicle or machinery | 11 |
| 3 | Compressed between running equipment and other object(s) | 6 |
| 4 | Struck against stationary object | 4 |
| 5 | Caught, entangled in running powered equipment— normal operation | 3 |
| 6 | Struck by running powered equipment— unspecified | 3 |
| 7 | Fall on same level | 3 |
| 8 | Incidents onboard aircraft in normal operation | 2 |
Where injuries happen most
Transportation and warehousing operations account for 67% of all severe aircraft-related injuries. This high concentration reflects the intense pace of ground handling and maintenance cycles, where pressure to meet flight schedules can lead to shortcuts in safety protocols and improper use of access equipment.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports include you slipping from aircraft wings, getting caught in floor locks, or suffering traumatic impacts from rotating propellers during timing services. These incidents often stem from inadequate fall protection or failure to properly secure equipment during maintenance. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you review the specifics of your incident.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | CO | Administrative Services | "An employee was pulling a loaded cargo container from the back of an aircraft to the front. His left boot got caught on a floor lock. The lock punctured the top of his boot and amputated his little toe." | |
| 2025 | LA | Construction | "An employee was preparing a commercial jet-liner to be repainted. He had accessed the wing via a scissor lift, and was standing on a flap over an aft wing box, at a height of approximately 15 feet. His harness was on, and he was hooked up to the scissor lift yoyo. He slipped off the top of the wing and fell approximately 6 feet, making contact with the plane and scissor lift, resulting in a fractured left femur." | |
| 2025 | CO | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was performing a magneto timing service on a four-seat, single-engine, fixed-wing aircraft. The timing service requires the propeller and the engine to be moved/rotated. When the propeller rotated, it struck the employee, causing a head injury. The employee was hospitalized. " | |
| 2025 | CA | Public Administration | "On January 27, 2025, an employee was stepping down from the wing of a training aircraft when he lost his balance with one foot on the hangar floor and fell onto his left side. The employee was hospitalized with a left femur fracture and required surgery." | |
| 2024 | FL | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was descending from an aft cargo compartment when they fell to the ground, resulting in fractures." | |
| 2024 | FL | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was removing a rotary actuator at an outboard flap on an airplane. The actuator moved and cut the employee's left little finger, partially amputating the ball of the finger." | |
| 2024 | FL | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was disassembling the avionics equipment cooling ducting to gain access for a repair. After removing the equipment, the fan motor became energized and suction caused the employee's left hand to contact the fan blades. The employee sustained severe lacerations to their index and middle fingers, as well as their thumb (all at or above the last knuckle). Two fingers were medically amputated." | |
| 2023 | GA | Manufacturing | "On November 28, 2023, an employee was working on an aircraft. They had used a work-stand, or portable/rolling staircase, to enter the aircraft. When the employee stepped backward to exit the aircraft, the work stand was not there, causing the employee to fall approximately 46 inches to the concrete floor. The employee was hospitalized with fractured ribs, contusions/abrasions to left elbow, and a bruised back." | |
| 2023 | GA | Transportation & Warehousing | "On November 26, 2023, an employee was closing a door on an airplane when their left little finger was caught in the door frame, resulting in a fingertip amputation." | |
| 2023 | CA | Transportation & Warehousing | "On June 27, 2023, at 2:30 p.m., a pilot was returning after a test flight of an F-35 aircraft. After aircraft recovery, the pilot exited the aircraft via the integrally mounted aircraft access ladder. During his descent, he tripped on the third ladder step and fell approximately 6 feet, resulting in a dislocated left shoulder, a compound dislocation of the left elbow, and stable fractures of the left 7th and 8th ribs." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, these injuries are highly prevalent due to the heavy machinery and elevated surfaces involved in aviation work. Amputations and fractures each represent 33% of the reported injury natures in this sector. An attorney can help you document the full extent of these injuries for your Workers' Compensation claim.
Workers' Compensation is designed to cover injuries occurring during the scope of your employment, including tasks performed on aircraft surfaces. If you were injured while performing maintenance or ground duties, you are generally entitled to medical coverage and wage replacement. An attorney can help you ensure your claim accurately reflects the severity of your workplace injury.
Employers are required to provide a safe work environment, which includes proper fall protection for work at height and guarding for moving parts like propellers. When your employer fails to maintain these standards, it may impact your legal options beyond standard Workers' Compensation. An attorney can help you evaluate whether safety violations contributed to your accident.
If you fell while working on an aircraft, you should prioritize medical treatment and ensure the incident is reported to your supervisor immediately. Documenting the conditions of the aircraft and the equipment you were using is vital for your claim. An attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence to support your case for benefits.