A man died after being sucked into the engine of a plane preparing to take off at Bergamo Airport in northern Italy Tuesday, an airport spokesperson told AFP.

The victim, who was "neither a passenger nor an airport employee", forced his way onto the runway, where he was "pursued" in vain by airport security, according to the spokesperson for airport management company SACBO.

According to Italy's Corriere della Sera daily, the man – in his thirties – burst into the airport, then used an emergency exit to rush onto the runway toward an aircraft preparing for take-off.

Earlier in the day, Spanish airline Volotea wrote on social media that its flight from Bergamo to Asturias in Spain was involved in an "incident" at 10:35 am (0835 GMT).

"One person not onboard and not affiliated with the company was seriously injured. All 154 passengers and six crew are safe," it said on X.

"We are doing everything possible to support the affected passengers and crew, providing them with psychological support, while working in close coordination with the Italian authorities."

The plane was an Airbus A319, according to tracking website Flightradar24.

Flights were suspended at Bergamo Airport, Italy's third largest by passenger volume, following the incident, but resumed at midday, according to SACBO.