Photographer Killed After Walking Into Spinning Plane Propeller While Snapping Photos

A photographer was tragically killed after accidentally walking into a spinning plane propeller while taking pictures.

Amanda Gallagher, 37, was on a work assignment, taking pictures of skydivers getting on and off planes in Kansas.

While taking the photos, Gallagher accidentally stepped back into the spinning propeller of a stationary plane.

Emergency responders quickly responded to the scene and took Gallagher to a local hospital, where she later died from her injuries.

A 37-year-old Kansas woman was killed after she backed into a plane's spinning propeller while trying to take photos, officials said. https://t.co/2HnGfzbTce

— ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) October 29, 2024

Here’s what the Guardian reported:

A photographer was killed after inadvertently walking into a spinning airplane propeller while taking pictures in Kansas.

Amanda Gallagher, 37, was on a work assignment on Saturday capturing pictures of skydivers getting on and off planes in the town of Derby – less than 15 miles from Wichita – when she stepped back into the propeller of a plane that was stationary yet still running.

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First responders took Gallagher to a local hospital, but she died there from her injuries, officials said.

The Air Capital Drop Zone, the skydiving center that operated the plane involved in the photographer’s death, said Gallagher violated “basic safety procedures”. “For unknown reasons … she moved in front of the wing” of the plane, aiming her camera upward to shoot photos, the statement said.

“Amanda Gallagher was kind, adventurous, creative and beautiful inside and out,” a message on the site says. “She was a loving daughter, sister, aunt and friend and will be greatly missed.”

That message also said Gallagher died “doing what she loved, skydiving and taking pictures”.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating Gallagher’s death.

NEW: Female skydiver and photographer dies after backing into a propeller while taking photos at a Kansas airfield

Amanda Gallagher, 37, was killed on Saturday at Cook Airfield in Derby, Kansas

Gallagher was taking photos of people boarding and exiting planes at Air Capital… pic.twitter.com/Ue6pYq3CVR

— Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) October 28, 2024

Per ABC 7 Chicago:

A 37-year-old Kansas woman was killed after she backed into a plane’s spinning propeller while trying to take photos, officials said.

Amanda Gallagher, a photographer, was on the plane to snap photos of skydivers on Saturday afternoon, and she rode the plane back down after the skydivers jumped, according to Air Capital Drop Zone, where the incident took place.

The plane landed at the site in Derby, outside of Wichita, and the next set of jumpers went to board, Air Capital Drop Zone said.

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The Cessna 182 was grounded but still running, according to the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Aviation Administration.

“For unknown reasons … she moved in front of the wing, a violation of basic safety procedures,” Air Capital Drop Zone said in a statement. “With her camera up to shoot photos as she did so, she stepped back slightly moving toward and into the spinning propeller.”

Photographer dies after reportedly backing into plane propeller while snapping photos https://t.co/Az4TS9wBgq

— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) October 29, 2024