The tragic events of October 31, at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), which led to the death of a longtime Airport employee, have culminated in a lawsuit filed by the victim's family. Michael Wills was fatally struck by a fuel truck while on duty at the airport, as reported by KVUE. The lawsuit alleges negligence on the part of Menzies Aviation, the company responsible for providing ground-handling services, including the operation of the fuel truck involved in the incident.
Wills, while wearing all necessary safety equipment, had asked the fuel truck driver to move from an unauthorized area. The driver reportedly became "angry and irritated" and then proceeded to drive the truck at an unsafe speed, pinning Wills between the truck’s rear wheels and his pickup, leading to his tragic death, KVUE's report explained.
Court records obtained by KXAN detail the lawsuit's allegations against the driver's employer, Menzies Aviation, which is accused of failing to adequately train and supervise its employees. On the morning of the accident, the fuel truck driver purportedly waited in an unauthorized area to re-fuel a plane when the incident occurred. Emergency responders who arrived at the scene within minutes were unable to save Wills, who was 68 years old at the time and a retired captain from the Palm Springs Fire Department, according to the same KXAN report.
In April, another airport-related fatality occurred, prompting the interim CEO of Austin Airport, Jim Smith, to send a memo to city leaders outlining safety operations. Notably, a mandatory driver safety program that requires annual completion by all employees who operate motorized vehicles on the ramp is managed by the Department of Aviation, however, KXAN investigators discovered that obtaining these materials could be costly due to third-party vendor involvement. Meanwhile, the spokesperson for Menzies Aviation told KXAN they could not comment on the situation due to the ongoing investigation.
According to KXAN, the plaintiff's legal representation has committed to "do whatever it takes to bring justice" in this case. The lawsuit seeks monetary relief exceeding $1 million in actual and punitive damages. As the investigations by the Austin Police Department and OSHA continue, the Aviation Department has refrained from commenting on the lawsuit as they are not named as defendants. The spokesperson for the airport, however, did not hesitate to reflect on Wills' contribution to the team, referring to him as "an outstanding coworker and friend."
