Federal aviation officials and El Paso police are continuing to investigate the bizarre death of an airplane mechanic who had been working on a Continental Airlines Boeing 737 bound for Houston Monday morning and was suddenly pulled into the plane's engine, the El Paso Times reported on its Web site.

The incident occurred around 9 a.m. Monday as the plane was at the gate boarding passengers, the Times reported.

The mechanic's name was being withheld pending notification of his family, but the paper quoted a Continental official as saying he worked for one of the airline's suppliers.

Continental Airlines chairman and CEO Larry Kellner issued a statement following the man's death, saying, "My fellow co-workers and I extend our heartfelt sympathies to the family and friends of the mechanic involved in this tragic event."

Kellner said the airline was coordinating assistance for any passengers and employees "who need help in dealing with this tragedy," the Times reported.

Passengers who were already aboard when the accident occurred were told to leave the plane because "somebody got hurt," one passenger told the Times.

Pat Abeln, aviation director at El Paso International Airport, told the Times that incidents leading to injuries or deaths of airport employees are "pretty uncommon" not only at El Paso but at airports worldwide.

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