A 26-year-old baggage handler sadly died this week after her hair became caught in a baggage conveyor belt at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY).
The woman has since been identified as Jermani Thompson by the Jefferson Parish Coroner's Office on Wednesday (August 31), NOLA.com reports.
Thompson suffered serious injuries while unloading luggage from a Frontier Airlines flight at around 10:00PM local time on Tuesday (August 30), per Sky News. She was later rushed to hospital where she tragically died.
Mike Hough, chief executive officer for Thompson's employer GAT Airline Ground Support, told NOLA.com: "We are heartbroken and are supporting her family and her friends as best as we are able," after revealing Thompson's hair became entangled in the machinery of the baggage conveyor belt, causing her fatal injuries.
As a result of the incident, one Frontier Airlines flight was canceled on Wednesday morning, before all flights were back on schedule, a representative told NOLA.com.
Kevin Dolliole, Director of Aviation at the international airport, told WDSU:
"We are deeply saddened about the tragic loss of GAT Airline Ground Support team member, Jermani Thompson. The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport extends its sincere condolences to her family and friends, and also to our partners at GAT and Fontier Airlines.
"Jermani was a part of our Airport family, and we will continue to support one another in any way we can during this trying time."
Angela Dorsey, Thompson's mother, said that her daughter was a talented athlete - playing basketball in both high school and college, People reported. She also said her daughter had studied sociology, earning her bachelor's degree at Tougaloo College in Jackson, Mississippi.
Thompson's friends and family have taken to Facebook to share their favorite memories of her, with one friend writing: "So I didn't have 'normal' summers growing up. Like hanging out with friends and family and going on family vacation. I was always playing travel basketball so of course my [teammates] were who I spent summers with growing up and they were my family."
The post continued: "And even though we got older and some of us may have grown apart we always knew and know that we were and will always be family. Definitely appreciate the memories we had every summer we all played together. RIP Jermani Thompson [sic]."
Thompson's high school basketball coach, Jessica Barber, also shared a touching tribute, saying: "My heart is shattered—for her family, for her friends, for her co-workers and for this world. [Jermani] was a good one. I can guarantee she took her last breath smiling and helping someone else. What a classy kid— [Jermani], I'll remember you this way… I love you, always [sic]."
Another simply wrote: "Rest In Peace [Jermani]... Praying that God [gives] your mom Angela Dorsey and the rest of your family and friends the strength they need to get through this…"
Our thoughts are with Jermani Thompson's family, friends, and colleagues at this difficult time.
