Investigation into Model Injured by Plane Prop to Highlight Dangers of Light Planes

Officials from the FAA are opening an investing into the accident involving model Lauren Scruggs that occurred when she apparently walked into the still spinning propeller on the front of an airplane she had just been riding in to view Christmas lights around the town of Plano Texas. Scruggs's mother, who was also on the flight described the accident to the local newspaper, the Star. Scruggs had apparently turned to thank the pilot for taking them on an air tour, when she walked right into the prop, which severed her hand and caused extensive damage to her head and shoulders.

Scruggs's who was also a wardrobe assistant on the popular television show, Gossip Girls, also has her own fashion blogged called LOLO and another blog on CaringBridge, where her parents have left a message for those concerned about her recovery.

On the ground accidents are extremely rare for people in light aircraft, and the attention of authorities on this accident will focus on why the passengers were allowed to disembark when the propeller was still moving; something that is forbidden for virtually all flights that carry paying passengers. It's not yet known whether the flight in question was paid for, which means it wouldn't have fallen under such rules if it weren't. ABC news, in looking into the story reports that the pilot, who is a friend of Scruggs, was in the process of switching seats with a copilot, which is why the propeller was left spinning. Their intent was to take off again as soon as the passengers disembarked.

In any case, Scrugg's parents report that their daughter has undergone extensive reconstructive surgery at Parkland Hospital in Dallas and that she is able to speak to them, indicating there is no brain damage. No attempt was made to reattach the severed hand due to extensive damage to it and the arm incurred from the high speed blade. Scrugge's parents have also appeared on the television show Good Moring America to update friends and followers and to ask for prayer for their daughter from those that care about her.

Other people who were either on the plane or near it when the accident occurred reported that it was dark out at the time of the accident, and that the plane engine was clearly heard running, which would indicate that Scrugg's was simply not paying attention to what was going on around her when she went to speak to the pilot, following a path that led right through the propellers arc.