Infant falls to death after elevator doors open to empty shaft

Baby fell eight stories, landing on top of the elevator, which was out of operation.

A 6-week-old baby girl died Thursday when her stroller accidentally fell down an elevator shaft in a Brooklyn building.

According to officials, the infant’s 21-year-old mother Haifa Ali, of Brooklyn, was waiting with the stroller on the 23^rd floor of an apartment building in Coney Island around 11.40 am. She left her apartment at the Bay Park II housing complex in the Sea Gate neighborhood around 10.30 am with her baby in a stroller. Ms. Ali pushed the button for the elevator, calling it to the 23^rd floor of 3415 Neptune Avenue. When the door opened, Ms. Ali pushed the stroller into what she thought would be a waiting car – but it was not there.

Baby fell eight stories, landing on top of the elevator, which was out of operation and had stopped on the 15^th floor.

The baby, identified as Areej Ali was pronounced dead at Coney Island Hospital. The mother was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.

“This isn’t a freak accident, these elevators always have problems. And it’s been going on like this for 20 years,” New York Times quoted a tenant on the 21^st floor who gave his name only as Mike.

The elevator involved in the incident passed a thorough, “once-every-5-years inspection” in January, 2016, says the buildings department.

Inspectors with the city’s Department of Buildings were at the scene and the investigation is ongoing.