A Virgin Atlantic aircraft engineer has died after he was crushed when machinery fell on him while he was working inside the fuel tank of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner at a hangar at London's Heathrow Airport, according to a report by The Sun.

The engineer, named as Georgie Buxton, 23, had been carrying out maintenance tests on the aircraft when the equipment suddenly collapsed on him, the report said. He was placed in intensive care following the accident and remained there for four weeks before his family made the decision to switch off life support earlier this month, according to The Sun.

Buxton, who was unmarried and lived near Heathrow in west London, had worked for Virgin Atlantic for two years. His family kept a vigil at his bedside in the weeks following the accident, the report said.

The Boeing 787 involved in the incident has been withdrawn from service while investigators work to determine what caused the equipment to fall. A source close to the airline told The Sun that officials had grounded the aircraft on safety grounds pending clarity on the cause.

A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said the airline was "heartbroken" to confirm the death of "a much-loved member of our engineering team," adding that the company's thoughts were with Buxton's family, friends, and colleagues. The airline said it was providing support to those close to him and that the family had asked for privacy. 

The spokesperson said the airline was working closely with relevant authorities and Boeing, the aircraft's manufacturer, to establish the facts of the incident and that no further details would be released while the investigation continues.

A Heathrow Airport spokesperson also offered condolences, saying the airport was "very sorry to hear of this tragic accident" and that its thoughts were with Buxton's family and with colleagues across the Virgin Atlantic team.

Virgin Atlantic operates a fleet of 17 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, each with a capacity of up to 264 passengers, according to the report.

Source: The Sun