Police have shared that a 64-year-old United Airlines employee is in critical condition after the aircraft tug vehicle he was driving was struck by a taxiing plane at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
The incident occurred on Saturday and now joins the growing list of airplane mishaps and incidents over the last week.
Police and American Airlines have shared that the tug vehicle was across the runway when it was struck by the wing of an American Airlines plane that had just landed at the airport from Kalamazoo Battle Creek International Airport in Michigan, ABC News reported.
The collision caused the tug vehicle to flip over and trap the 64-year-old United employee underneath it.
Help quickly arrived after the collision, and the driver was eventually freed and transported to Lutheran General Hospital in critical condition. Police shared that he suffered injuries to his head and lower body but is now in stable condition.
“We are ensuring he receives any necessary support and care,” United Airlines said.
The passengers and crew members aboard the American Airlines flight were safe, as no one was left injured. Everyone on board was able to safely deplane and were then bussed to their terminal.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and team members, and we are reviewing this incident,” American Airlines said in a statement to The New York Post.
The investigation into how the collision occurred remains ongoing at this time.
The incident comes after a week of intense scrutiny for airports, airplanes, and air traffic controllers, with planes crashing in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., within days of each other. Both crashes left all who were on board dead.
Over the weekend another incident made headlines when a plane at George Bush Intercontinental/Houston Airport caught fire after having a reported “engine issue.” No one was injured in that incident, but it has added to the list at a time when pressure to ensure safety is at an all time high.