An aircraft tug driver was hospitalized in critical condition on Saturday after an airplane wing collided with the tug vehicle at the O’Hare International Airport in Chicago.
According to Fox 5, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials confirmed that the United Airlines tug driver was injured in an incident with Air Wisconsin Flight 6181, an American Airlines Bombardier CRJ-200, at roughly 6:35 p.m. on Saturday. FAA officials noted that the airplane was “struck by a tug while approaching the gate at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.”
Fox 5 reported that the collision, which occurred as the United Airlines tug attempted to cross the airport taxiway, forced the vehicle to flip over, leaving the 64-year-old driver underneath the tug vehicle. The outlet cited Chicago police officials, who confirmed that the 64-year-old was hospitalized at the Lutheran General Hospital in critical condition after suffering injuries to his head and lower body. However, officials indicated that the driver was later stabilized in the hospital.
Addressing the injury to the tug driver, United Airlines stated, “On Saturday evening, a United tug at O’Hare made contact with another airline’s aircraft while it was taxiing. The United employee was taken to a local hospital for evaluation, and we are ensuring he receives any necessary support and care.”
READ MORE: 2 dead bodies found in plane’s landing gear
According to Fox 5, none of the passengers on the American Airlines flight were injured in Saturday’s incident. The FAA noted that the passengers were able to exit safely from the plane and were bused to the airport terminal. The FAA also announced that the agency would be investigating the incident.
In a statement obtained by Fox 5, American Airlines said, “After safely landing at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), American Eagle flight 6181, operated by Air Wisconsin from Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (AZO) to ORD, came into contact with a tug on an active taxiway. Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and team members, and we are reviewing this incident.”
A video shared on X, formerly Twitter, shows a large number of emergency vehicles at the O’Hare International Airport following Saturday’s incident.
“Something is going on at O’Hare. This is happening outside my gate in Terminal 3,” social media user Dorian Craft tweeted. “Not what you want to see before a flight.”
