Woman dies after stepping backwards into plane's propeller while taking photos

A 37-year-old Kansas woman was killed after she backed into a plane’s spinning propeller while trying to take photos, officials said.

Amanda Gallagher, a photographer, was on the plane Saturday afternoon to take photos of paratroopers, and she drove the plane back down after the paratroopers jumped, according to Air Capital Drop Zone, where the incident occurred.

The 37-year-old photographer was riding backwards in a grounded, but still flying, aircraft.

The plane landed at the site in Derby, outside Wichita, and the next set of jumpers boarded, Air Capital Drop Zone said.

According to the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Aviation Administration, the Cessna 182 was grounded but still running.

“For unknown reasons… she moved in front of the wing, a violation of basic safety procedures,” Air Capital Drop Zone said in a statement. “With her camera raised to take pictures as she did so, she stepped back towards and into the spinning propeller.”

Gallagher, of Wichita, was taken to a hospital where she died from her injuries, authorities said.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.