Family Sues Salt Lake City After Man In Mental‑Health Crisis Crawled Into Plane Engine; Says 30 Seconds Could Have Saved Him

The parents of 30-year-old Kyler Efinger have filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the City of Salt Lake after their son — who they say was experiencing an obvious mental‑health episode — left the secure terminal and was later found dead inside an aircraft engine at Salt Lake City International Airport on Jan. 1, 2024.

Allegations and Timeline

The complaint, filed Dec. 30 by Judd and Lisa Efinger in Utah, says Kyler, a ticketed passenger bound for Denver, had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder about a decade earlier and occasionally became visibly disoriented during episodes. Court documents obtained by PEOPLE describe a sequence of events beginning around 9 p.m., when surveillance footage reportedly showed Kyler walking and running repeatedly on moving walkways and otherwise behaving in ways witnesses called "objectively unusual for an adult."

Nearly 30 minutes later he entered a Utah Jazz store near a gate. According to the store manager, Kyler behaved so erratically that the manager discounted a jersey to speed the transaction. Efinger left the store without his rolling bag; the manager contacted Airport Operations and two announcements were made for him to return. Witnesses say he later returned barefoot, half-zipped and agitated, accused the manager of holding his bag "hostage," and insisted his whole life was inside the bag.

Access To The Apron And Dispatch Confusion

The lawsuit alleges Airport Operations staff did not take further action despite witnesses describing Kyler as "agitated" and "incoherent." At about 9:52 p.m., he reportedly attempted to open locked jet‑bridge doors, fell, and then pushed through an emergency exit that led from the sterile area to the apron/Secure Identification Display Area. The complaint states that the emergency doors lacked delayed‑egress (DE) locking systems that would have imposed a 15–20 second delay before releasing.

After descending stairs and passing through a second unprotected door, Efinger reached the tarmac. The parents' filing asserts that the City maintained insufficient barriers and monitoring to prevent a visibly disoriented person from accessing the dangerous apron area unnoticed. Citing recorded radio communications, the complaint alleges confusion among dispatchers and officers; it took roughly eight minutes to determine where he had exited to the tarmac.

The Fatal Encounter

The suit says Efinger removed his pants and underwear and, wearing only a jersey and socks, reached the deicing area by Runway 34L at about 10:07 p.m. A pilot reported spotting him and stopped an aircraft engine, but court documents allege Efinger climbed into the engine cowling while the engine was still running. The rotating blades reportedly caught his dreadlocked hair and inflicted blunt head trauma, which the complaint identifies as the cause of death.

Efinger's parents claim their son would have survived if officers had located him 30 seconds earlier and describe the initial search as "wholly ineffective." The complaint accuses the City of negligence, premises liability and failing to notify air traffic controllers, pilots and ground crews about a disoriented person on the tarmac. The suit seeks damages exceeding $300,000 and requests a jury trial.

Family Statement And Response

Through attorneys, Judd and Lisa Efinger said they filed the lawsuit "to seek accountability and to effect positive change so something like this doesn’t happen to another family," adding that people experiencing mental‑health crises need support and compassion. A Salt Lake City mayor's office spokesperson declined to comment to PEOPLE because the matter is pending litigation.

If you or someone you know needs mental health help: Text "STRENGTH" to 741-741 to connect with a certified crisis counselor through the Crisis Text Line.

Reporting is based on the plaintiffs' complaint and court documents obtained by PEOPLE.