A worker at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport was critically injured Saturday night when an aircraft tug collided with a recently landed plane approaching a gate, causing the tug to overturn.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the incident occurred around 7:35 p.m. local time. Air Wisconsin Flight 6181, operating under American Eagle—a subsidiary of American Airlines—was struck by the tug while taxiing to its gate.
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Chicago police reported that the tug flipped after colliding with the plane’s wing, pinning the driver, a 64-year-old man, underneath. He was transported in critical condition to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital with head and lower body injuries but was later stabilized.
The Chicago Department of Aviation confirmed that no passengers were injured and that the incident did not significantly impact airport operations. Following the collision, all passengers were safely deplaned and transported to the terminal via bus.
American Airlines emphasized safety as a priority, stating, "Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and team members, and we are reviewing this incident."
The tug operator, a United Airlines employee, is receiving support from the airline. Meanwhile, the FAA has launched an investigation into the cause of the collision.
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This incident follows a series of recent aviation accidents. Just a day earlier, a medical transport helicopter crash in a Philadelphia neighborhood claimed seven lives. Additionally, two days prior, a midair collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., resulted in the deaths of all 67 people on board.
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