Airport horror as boy crushed to death by falling departure board

A 10-year-old boy was killed when a flight information display board fell on him and his family at Birmingham Shuttlesworth International Airport in Alabama.

The boy's mother is in a critical condition and two other children are in a serious condition after the incident, CBS42 reports.

Luke Bresette was pronounced dead on Friday afternoon, according to the Jefferson County Coroner.

The arrivals and departures display board contains multiple flat-screen TVs and is extremely heavy.

Connie Deramus, who frequently travels from the airport, told Alabama's 13: "It sad. It's very sad."

Spokesperson for the Birmingham Airport Authority Toni Herrera-Bast said the incident happened on the northeast of the building, a new part of the airport which opened last week, around 1.30pm on Friday.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue officials estimate the sign weighs between 136kg to 181kg.

It took several people to lift the display board off the family.

Luke's mother Heather Bresette was transported to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital and the children were transported to Children's Hospital.

The airport authority is investigating what caused the display to collapse.

Larry Snyder tried to help the family and said their injuries were horrific.

Speaking to CBS42, he said: "Their father was clearly very distraught, he was checking in at the Southwest Counter when the rest of his family was crushed."

Birmingham Mayor William Bell said: "I have offered our full support to the Airport Authority as they investigate what has occurred this afternoon. I have asked our public safety staff to assist this family in their time of need in any way possible as they grapple with what has happened."

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