Airport ground worker injured after vehicle in collision with American Eagle plane

A worker at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) has been critically injured after the aircraft tug that he was driving was struck by the wing of an aircraft that had just landed and was approaching its assigned gate, causing the tug to overturn. The incident occurred at around 19:35 local time on Saturday, February 1. 2025. The aircraft involved was a Bombardier CRJ-200 operated by Air Wisconsin on behalf of American Eagle, the regional subsidiary of American Airlines.  

Air Wisconsin flight AA6181 had just landed at Chicago O’Hare Airport after completing a short flight from Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport (AZO) in Michigan. The aircraft had departed its departure point at 18:37 local time and landed just 37 minutes later at 19:14. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the incident occurred at around 19:35 local time as the Air Wisconsin jet approached its allocated stand at the airport.

Chicago police added that the tug flipped over after colliding with the wing of the plane, pinning the driver underneath it. The man was operating the tug on behalf of fellow US major carrier United Airlines at the time of the incident.  

Catharine Pierce / ShutterstockThe driver, reported to be a 64-year-old man, was taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Chicago in critical condition with injuries to his head and lower body. Police said his condition was described by doctors at the hospital as ‘stable’. The FAA confirmed that the airplane involved (registered N420AW) had just arrived from Kalamazoo and that no passengers onboard were injured. The Chicago Department of Aviation added that “there was no significant impact on O’Hare Airport operations as a result of the incident.”

Following the incident, all passengers onboard AA6181 were driven by bus to the airport terminal after a brief delay while the aircraft was eventually removed from the taxiway for further inspection by engineers.  

“After safely landing at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, American Eagle flight 6181, operated by Air Wisconsin from Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport to Chicago 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. We are ensuring [the injured driver] receives any necessary support and care,” said American Airlines in a statement.

“On Saturday evening [February 1, 2025), 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,” added the Chicago Police Department.

Air WisconsinThe incident came just days after a ramp worker employed by American Airlines sustained fatal injuries after an incident on the apron at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (CLT) in North Carolina. According to reports, the incident occurred on the morning of January 27, 2025, at around 09:38 when the worker was allegedly struck by a vehicle while working airside at the airport.

While the full circumstances of the incident which led to the loss of the life of the ramp worker have not yet been fully disclosed, it is understood that just a single vehicle was involved and that no one else was injured due to the collision. Additionally in the same week, another American Eagle Bombardier regional jet operated by another regional affiliate (PSA Airlines) collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter as it made its final approach into Washington-Reagan International Airport (DCA) killing all onboard.

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