Cargo Worker Killed at Newark Airport

A cargo worker at Newark Liberty International Airport was killed early yesterday when equipment used to support the tail section of a plane fell on him outside Terminal B, authorities said.

Timothy Gallagher of Jersey City, an employee of Worldwide Flight Services, was towing a huge metal tail stand for an Eva Airlines Boeing 747 when it toppled on him about 12:25 a.m., causing severe head and torso injuries, according to Pasquale DiFulco, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

The equipment weighs about 750 pounds and is 16.5 feet high by more than 7.5 feet wide. It is used to stabilize the rear of a plane while cargo is loaded and unloaded.

Gallagher, who authorities said was about 40 years old, was taken to Newark Beth Israel Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:22 a.m., DiFulco said.

DiFulco said an investigation is ongoing by Port Authority Police and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration to determine why the tail stand fell.

The accident occurred in the ramp area by Terminal B's Gates 63 and 65, but it did not affect flight operations, DiFulco said.

An OSHA spokeswoman confirmed the agency had launched an investigation but said she could not comment further.

A receptionist at Worldwide Flight Services' Newark office transferred a call to a woman who said the company had "no comment" about the matter. She declined to identify herself and hung up. An e-mail request for comment to the company's national headquarters was not returned yesterday.

According to Worldwide's Web site, the company was started in 1984 and provides ramp, cargo, maintenance and passenger services for airlines at 115 airports throughout the world. Ron Marsico may be reached at [email protected] or (973) 392-7860.

News stories provided by third parties are not edited by "Site Publication" staff. For suggestions and comments, please click the Contact link at the bottom of this page.