Montgomery, Alabama - A ground crew worker at Montgomery Regional Airport died after they were accidentally sucked into the jet engine of a parked airplane.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) told NPR that the worker was "ingested into the engine" of an Embraer 170 aircraft, operated by regional carrier Envoy Air, while it was parked at the gate on New Year's Eve.

The victim who has yet to be identified was employed by Piedmont Airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines.

"We are saddened to hear about the tragic loss of a team member of the AA/Piedmont Airlines," Wade A. Davis, Executive Director at the airport, said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time."

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The incident grounded all flights at the airport for about five hours.

American Airlines reportedly released a statement over the weekend, saying the company is "devastated by the accident involving a team member."

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and our local team members," the company added. "We are focused on ensuring that all involved have the support they need during this difficult time."

The Federal Aviation Administration will continue to investigate the incident, and a preliminary report is expected to be released by the agency in two to three weeks.