A Delta Air Lines employee died Thursday night after an airport tug vehicle crashed into a jet bridge at Orlando International Airport, the latest fatal ground incident to hit one of the country’s busiest travel hubs. The Federal Aviation Administration said the tug struck the bridge where Delta Air Lines Flight 2593 was parked at about 10:55 p.m. local time.
Delta confirmed the worker was on duty when the wreck happened. Passengers on the parked flight deplaned through the rear door and airstairs, and operations were paused immediately after the incident. One flight departure was canceled, while other customers were moved onto different flights.
The death lands hard for a carrier that depends on a large ramp and ground crew to keep flights moving on time. Delta said it was working with local authorities as a full investigation got underway to determine what occurred, and the Orlando Police Department is handling the probe.
The company said, in a statement, that it was heartbroken at the loss of a team member while on the job at Orlando International Airport on May 7 and that it was focused on supporting the worker’s family and its Orlando team. Orlando International Airport also said it was deeply saddened by the loss of a team member from one of its airline partners and sent condolences to his family and friends.
What led to the fatal wreck was still unclear Friday afternoon. For now, the unanswered question is not about the disruption to travelers — Delta has already shifted passengers and canceled one departure — but about how a tug ended up striking a jet bridge hard enough to kill a worker in the first place.
