Family of the man who died by suicide jumping into the engine of a Delta plane at San Antonio International Airport said he lived a challenging life with past suicide attempts – but he had been happy and living a clean life in months, giving no indications of self-harm.
David Renner was identified as the airport worker killed and his brother, Joshua Renner, told DailyMail.com David’s childhood was ‘complicated at times with living in two separate households growing up just like all the other divorced kids.’
‘This isn’t the first time David has tried something like this from my knowledge,’ Joshua said. ‘There were other times. This time I thought it was different.
The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office on Monday ruled his death a suicide and confirmed David Renner’s identity.
The plane had arrived on Friday night when it appeared, at that time, Renner was ‘ingested’ into the engine of an outgoing flight as his colleagues watched in horror.
David Renner, 27, was killed Friday night when he apparently jumped into the engine of a taxiing Delta Airlines flight at the San Antonio International Airport. A corner ruled his death a suicide
The plane (pictured here) remained at the gate the next morning and flights in the airport were delayed. The National Transportation Safety Board responded to the news of his suicide by saying it will not be investigating Renner’s death
David Renner was working for a company that Delta contracts with for ground support. An autopsy found Renner died from blunt and sharp force injuries, The Guardian reported.
His brother said in recent months that David had given no hints of self-harm.
‘The reason I say that is because he was almost five months clean and living every day to the fullest,’ he said, claiming ‘there was zero indication this time.’
‘David had been clean for over eight months, was in therapy, [was] actively taking his prescribed medication and had finally became the David we all knew he could be.’
Joshua told how his older brother ‘loved magic.
‘He was always trying to perform some little slight of hand for his friends and family,’ he recounted.
‘He also loved making people laugh he made it his mission to tell everyone at least one joke a day.’
But, he said, his older brother had struggled with mental health in the past.
Their parents ‘were making sure that he was taking good care of himself’ prior to his death on Friday night.
Joshua said his family is now ‘doing the best they can do right now,’ noting that ‘some days are tougher than others.’
‘David is one of many others that suffer with mental illness and it’s not always very clear to us to see,’ he said.
He is urging people to reach out when they notice someone is struggling ‘because someone random can save a life to a random stranger.
‘The simplest smile can always make a difference.’
Renner’s brother, Joshua, told DailyMail.com that David ‘also loved making people laugh he made it his mission to tell everyone at least one joke a day.’
Emergency personnel are seen on the tarmac after he was sucked into the engine and killed
Authorities with announced Friday night that an employee at San Antonio International Airport had been ‘ingested’ into the engine of Delta Flight 1111 at around 10.25pm.
The plane had just arrived from Los Angeles and was taxiing to a gate at the time of the accident.
It had just one engine on at the time, when a source briefed on Renner’s death said it appeared he ‘intentionally stepped in front of the live engine.’
The plane remained at the gate the next morning and flights in the airport were delayed.
Unifi Aviation, the company for which Renner worked, released a statement Saturday saying: ‘We are heartbroken and grieving the loss of an aviation family member’s life in San Antonio.
‘Our hearts and full support are with their family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time.’
San Antonio airport officials also said they were ‘saddened’ by the worker’s death.
The National Transportation Safety Board responded to the news of his suicide by saying it will not be investigating Renner’s death.
‘The NTSB will not be opening an investigation into this event,’ a spokesperson for the federal agency said. ‘There were no operational issues with either the airplane or the airport.’
If you or someone you know is struggling, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at (800) 273-8255. An online chat is also available.
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk