Worker for skydiving company dies after walking into spinning plane propeller

TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD/Gray News) - A man who worked for a skydiving company was killed after he walked into a spinning plane propeller at an Arizona airport.

The Marana Police Department identified the victim as 40-year-old Eduardo Hernandez, who worked for SkyDive Marana.

Hernandez was part of the crew on a Cessna 208B that landed just before 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Marana Regional Airport. He got off the plane and walked into its propeller, which was still spinning, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing, but police say there are no signs of foul play and it appears to have been an accident.

The registered owner of the plane is Marana Tactical Flight, LLC, which is based in Tucson, according to the FAA registry.

This is the third fatal accident at the Marana Regional Airport in less than two years.

In April, Chris Sheafe and his wife, Jacque Sheafe, died when their plane ran off the runway and burst into flames. The couple were reportedly on their way back from cheering on the Arizona Wildcats during March Madness.

In February 2025, 70-year-old pilot Michael Reinath and 76-year-old Linda Gifford died when two planes collided while in the air.