On Saturday evening, a serious incident unfolded at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, where an American Airlines plane made contact with a United Airlines tug vehicle, resulting in critical injuries to the tug driver. The collision occurred around 6:58 p.m. near the 0-100 block of West Twya Street.
According to Chicago police, the tug was attempting to cross an active taxiway when it collided with the wing of an aircraft operated by Air Wisconsin, which had just arrived from Kalamazoo, Michigan. The impact caused the tug to flip over, leaving the 64-year-old driver trapped beneath the vehicle.
The driver was swiftly transported to Lutheran General Hospital, where he was reported to be in critical condition with injuries affecting both his head and lower body. Thankfully, he has since been stabilized.
In the aftermath of the accident, passengers aboard the Air Wisconsin flight experienced a brief delay before being allowed to disembark. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among those on the aircraft, and the incident did not significantly disrupt airport operations.
Official Responses
Both American Airlines and United Airlines released statements regarding the incident. The Chicago Department of Aviation confirmed that the tug made contact with Air Wisconsin Flight 6181, emphasizing that there were no injuries reported among the passengers, who were promptly transported to the terminal.
American Airlines stated, “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.”
Meanwhile, United Airlines acknowledged the collision, stating, “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.”
As the investigation into the incident continues, further updates are expected to be released by local authorities and the airlines involved.
