Yet another tragic airport incident left a United Airlines employee severely injured last week.
Videos by Suggest
A 64-year-old man working on the ground at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on Saturday when the incident occurred around 7 p.m. local time. He was operating an aircraft tug when it collided with the wing of a plane. The tug flipped, pinning the man underneath.
CBS News Chicago reports that the man was taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in critical condition. He had injuries to his head and lower body, but was reportedly stabilized at the hospital.
While the man was a United Airlines employee, the plane was a Bombardier CRJ-200 operated by Air Wisconsin, a subsidiary of American Airlines operating under American Eagle.
Following the accident, the plane’s passengers were safely deboarded and bused to the terminal
An American Airlines spokesperson said in a statement, “Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and team members, and we are reviewing this incident.”
The spokesperson also said the airline is committed to ensuring the injured employee receives “any necessary support and care.”
The FAA is also investigating the cause of the accident.
The Accident Is the Latest in a Recent Series of Airplane-Related Incidents
Recent weeks have seen several deadly and shocking airplane incidents.
On Jan. 29, an American Airlines flight was approaching Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington D.C. when it collided with an Army helicopter in midair. Both aircrafts plummeted into the freezing waters of the Potomac River. Rescue efforts were soon updated to recovery, with no survivors expected.
The flight was carrying 60 passengers — many of whom were U.S. figure skaters and coaches returning from a skating camp in Wichita — and four crew members. The helicopter had three onboard.
Then, on Jan. 31, a Learjet on a medevac flight crashed into a Philadelphia neighborhood. All six onboard, including a young female patient and her mother, were killed. The crash also caused chaos on the ground, hitting buildings and vehicles and killing at least one more victim.