A man identified as 70-year-old David Monroe was killed on Friday, September 19, 2025, when a jet engine fell on him at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio. Monroe was working with a crew to transport the engine when the rolling dolly it was on started moving, causing him to fall off the loading dock. The 5,000-pound engine then fell on him, resulting in his death at the scene, which authorities are calling a workplace accident.
Police and firefighters responded to a call at the Boeing Center at Tech Port after reports that a large piece of equipment, described by officials as possibly a jet engine, had fallen on a man. Firefighters declared Monroe dead at the scene near a loading dock, according to the San Antonio Fire Department.
Port San Antonio on Saturday confirmed Monroe’s identity in a statement remembering him as a visionary who left a mark on the local and global technology industry.
Monroe was the founder of the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology (SAMSAT). A statement published on the SAMSAT website states, “David Monroe was a prolific inventor, a driven entrepreneur and a man with a heart for technology’s impact on the lives of adults and children. His contribution to the digital age has been felt all over the world. His final chapter was bringing this impact to all corners of San Antonio. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and colleagues at SAMSAT and beyond. On behalf of Lorena Monroe and the SAMSAT team we want to thank you for the outpouring of support, and we appreciate you for respecting our privacy as we process David’s passing and legacy.”
Monroe obtained 54 patents, with innovations from the early microcomputer processor, wireless networking, teleradiology and digital imaging, reports say. He is often recognized for pioneering technology that made the cellphone camera possible.
“David was a force for good who transformed countless lives he touched,” wrote Paco Felici, the port’s chief of staff and chief communications officer, in the statement. “To the Port team, he was a friend and partner who inspired us and, through his beloved SAMSAT and museum team, worked hand in hand in a shared vision to make the world a better place.”
The Port San Antonio statement also added, “To tens of thousands of people — youngsters and adults alike — he was a tireless leader deeply committed to providing opportunities to lifelong learning.”