A bizarre collision between a passenger bus and an American Airlines jet at Los Angeles International Airport Friday night injured five people, sending four to the hospital. The aircraft was being towed on a taxiway in the South Complex to a remote parking spot. News reports describe the crash as “slow speed,” but it’s not entirely clear whether the bus struck the tug or vice versa.
The tug driver was taken to the hospital and was listed in what reports said was “moderate” condition, and the bus driver and two passengers were reported in fair condition. Airport officials said the sole person aboard the aircraft was treated at the scene but declined a hospital trip. A statement from Los Angeles World Airports said: “The aircraft that was being towed from a gate to a remote parking location made physical contact with a bus traveling on the south side of the LAX airfield. Members of the Los Angeles Fire Department responded and treated about five people at the scene (a tug driver plus bus passengers). There is no major operational disruption at LAX.”
Ramp activities at LAX are a virtual ant hill with service trucks, busses and tugs streaming along the vehicle roadway that crosses the ramp access taxiways at multiple points. Having observed this chaos up close, it is kind of surprising to me that this doesn’t happen more often. Add in operations after dark and such a collision is easily possible. I hope everyone recovers quickly. Is the NTSB likely to conduct an investigation?
I look forward to Monday morning’s edition of AvWeb following the weekend pause and today’s issue is stellar. Crazy weekend in and/or near the air – Bus-><- aircraft tug crash at LAX, multiple UFO shootdowns, a crew refuses to comply with NTSB's commands – I had to check the date to see if it was April 1. Most believeable: Officialdom second-guessing Austin actions avoiding an accident; most far-fetched: FAA adopts LODA policy change resulting in LESS constraint and FEWER complications.
At most big US airports it seems like it’s a race between the vehicle and the airplane to see who can cross in front of the other first- doesn’t always end well. I’ve had several close calls and have had to apply brakes (in a wide body) to avert a collision on multiple occasions with mx vans, food service trucks, crew buses etc.
Guess its cultural- I’ve never once had a right of way issue with a ground vehicle in Japan or Korea, they stop well short of the ‘hold’ line even if you aren’t moving, and even dim their headlights….
Perhaps I should wear a helmet like the one Mr. Bertorelli wears whenever I am flying on the big aluminum Tylenol.
I’m beginning to think cats and dogs are living together.