CHICAGO- On Saturday evening (August 26, 2023), a United Airlines (UA) Boeing 737 was positioned at gate M37 within Terminal 5 of Chicago O’Hare Airport (ORD) following its flight from Punta Cana (PUJ).
During this stationary phase, an American Airlines (AA) luggage cart collided with the front right section of the United 737 aircraft. Images captured post-incident reveal a significant puncture located above the landing gear.
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American Luggage Cart Hit United 737
The aircraft involved in the incident is United Boeing 737-900ER, registered as N75425. According to Planespotters.net, it is a 15.2-year-old aircraft and was delivered to Continental Airlines in 2008.
United 737 was at gate M37 after completing its scheduled flight as UA1664. The flight took from Punta Cana (PUJ) at 3:05 P.m. with more than one hour delay. After being airborne for almost four hours and 20 minutes, it landed safely at Chicago O’Hare (ORD).
The incident is reported by Twitter (Now X) user JonNYC and footage of the incident is posted by another user,
The slightly blurry security footage captures the occurrence, depicting the cart directly impacting the aircraft.
This incident appears rather peculiar; while I lack insight into the circumstances behind the wheel, it does appear that the driver should have had sufficient time to notice the airplane and avert the collision.
As of now, neither United Airlines, American Airlines, nor Chicago O’Hare Airport have issued statements regarding this particular incident.
Similar Incident
In April, a devastating incident at Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) involving an American Airlines (AA) employee shocked the aviation community.
The tragedy occurred when a tug, known for its history of mechanical problems, crashed into a jet bridge, resulting in the death of the employee.
The incident has sparked investigations into the cause of the accident and has brought to light concerns about maintenance practices.
In the aftermath of the fatal accident, American Airlines suggested to authorities that it may have been a suicide, raising eyebrows among investigators and colleagues.
However, the police report has now revealed a different perspective. Subsequently, it points towards poor maintenance by a contractor as the primary cause.
The tug involved in the accident had been plagued by “several mechanical issues.” including brake failure. It had even been involved in a collision with a guardrail just ten days prior.
On the day of the incident, as the employee began pushing back an aircraft, the tug unexpectedly accelerated and veered off course. Ultimately, crashed near gate 24, tragically pinning the man between the vehicle and the jet bridge.
One 911 call even suggested that the vehicle’s accelerator pedal had become stuck.
Read More Here, American Airlines Staff Died due to Inadequately Maintained Tug: Here’s the Police Report – Aviation A2Z
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