A man has stabbed his co-worker to death after a row over a staff room light switch at an US airport, police say.

The argument, involving three workers at Philadelphia International Airport, happened at about 11.30am local time on Thursday.

Police said one worker turned off the light in the room, angering another employee.

A third worker then pulled out a knife, cutting the victim, a 28-year-old man, across the stomach.

He was rushed to hospital but was later pronounced dead.

The other two workers are understood to have fled the scene but were soon detained by police.

The three men work for a company that cleans planes for Frontier Airlines, a Philadelphia Police spokesman added.

The incident happened in a “secure area” near Gate E6.

Frontier Airlines declined to comment.