Worker was pulled into the jet engine during push back at the T2 Terminal

A member of Air India's ground crew has been sucked in to an aircraft's engine and killed instantly.

The incident happened earlier today at Mumbai Airport in India while the aircraft was preparing for departure to Hyderabad.

The technician was killed after being sucked into the jet engine during push back at 9pm local time.

The incident happened earlier today at Mumbai Airport in India while the aircraft was preparing for departure to Hyderabad (file picture)

Air India has said it is 'deeply saddened' by what it described as a 'mishap' and a 'tragic' incident.

The aircraft, AI 619, was at a parking bay at the airport's T2 Terminal and was preparing for departure to Hyderabad.

Air India Chairman and Managing Director Ashwani Lohani said this afternoon: 'An Air India technician died in a mishap during pushback of flight AI 619. The incident is being investigated.

A member of Air India's ground crew has been sucked in to an aircraft's engine and killed instantly (file picture)

'We are deeply saddened and regret the tragic incident at Mumbai airport. Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.'

An airport official told Hindustan Times: 'The body is still stuck in the engine, efforts are going on to retrieve it.'

It is not yet clear how the worker came to be so close to the engine.