Preslie Ginoski, a 23-year-old fitness influencer, recently stoked controversy with a video showing him performing press-ups near the engine of a stationary aircraft at Sydney Airport.
In the viral footage, the influencer casually jumps up into the area near the jet’s engine, claiming it was a “quick pump before flight.” Unbothered by the moving propellers behind him, Ginoski flexes his biceps as the commercial jet sits on the tarmac.
According to a report by Daily mail, the stunt, filmed last year but shared widely over the weekend, quickly garnered backlash from both viewers and the airport authorities. Sydney Airport, known for its strict safety protocols, was quick to respond, pointing out its zero-tolerance policy toward unsafe behavior on the airfield. A spokesperson said, “Sydney Airport has zero tolerance for unsafe behavior on the airfield, and we take all reports of potential safety breaches extremely seriously.”
However, Ginoski defended his actions, telling Daily Mail that the incident has been blown out of proportion. “I just wanted people to get a laugh about it,” he said. “It’s like I’ve just got off the plane and I’m going to work out.” He assured that the stunt had not taken place near passengers or an active aircraft, adding, “The plane was parked on a bay and wasn’t moving until the next day.”
Despite his reassurances, experts pointed out the dangers of such proximity to jet engines, even when they are idle. Jet engines create an intense suction force when their blades spin, strong enough to pull a person into the engine from mere meters away, especially in the “ingestion zone” at the front of the wing.