Two construction workers are dead following a fatal workplace accident at John F. Kennedy Airport Monday morning.
The workers were killed after a trench collapsed at a construction site on airport grounds shortly after 11 am, according to published reports.
The Port Authority said that the workers became trapped under rubble following the collapse. CBS 2 reported that the workers were trapped in the trench for over an hour before being pulled out by first responders. Both of the workers, neither of whom have been identified pending family notification, were pronounced dead at the scene.
The exact cause of the accident remains unclear. The Port Authority said that the workers were relocating utility lines supplying power to the construction site when the incident took place. The agency said that the incident is under investigation, and all construction at JFK has been brought to a halt. Moreover, flight schedules were not impacted, the agency noted.
The incident occurred near Terminal 7, which is in the process of being demolished so the land can be incorporated into the new Terminal 6, which is under construction.
The FDNY and NYPD declined to comment, deferring questions to the Port Authority, which had no further comment.
“My thoughts are with the loved ones of two people tragically killed while working on a construction site at JFK Airport earlier today,” Governor Kathy Hochul tweeted. “[The Port Authority] is conducting a thorough investigation of the incident.”
City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who represents the areas around the airport in the Council, noted that workplace deaths are at a five-year high in the construction industry, and said she will “focus on supporting the families in their healing.”
“JFK Airport is not just a gateway to New York City, but also an essential part of our Southeast Queens community,” Adams said in the joint statement with Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers, who also reps southeast Queens. “Residents, workers, and visitors alike deserve to be safe — and that must include the essential workers who contribute to the daily activity and success of the airport and surrounding communities.”
This is a developing story. Check back later for updates
