A United Airlines plane struck a box truck and flipped the vehicle on the tarmac of a major international airport.
CCTV footage from the scene shows the truck tipped over and lying on its left side next to the commercial jetliner at Miami International Airport.
The unusual crash happened when the Boeing 737-900 ‘made contact with a catering vendor vehicle while being towed to a gate’ on the tarmac shortly before 10am on Thursday, the airline told NBC Miami.
An image showed the wing of the plane appearing dented and damaged from the impact.
The truck driver managed to get out of the vehicle and was not injured, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue told the news outlet.
There were not passengers aboard the plane at the time of the incident.
The plane is being inspected by United’s maintenance team.
Just a few months ago, the wingtip of a Delta Air Lines plane hit an Endeavor Air plane and ripped off its tail at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The incident happened while the Delta airplane was taxiing to depart. Video footage showed the smaller jet’s tail detached and on the ground. No passengers or crew members were hurt.
The Miami incident happened two days after United Flight 202 landed at Kahlului Airport in Maui and a dead body was found in the wheel well. It was not immediately known how the victim got into the wheel well of the Boeing 787-10 that arrived from Chicago on Christmas Eve.
Both incidents occurred on one of the busiest weeks for travel.
The Miami crash drew the attention of some aviation aficionados on social media.
‘Impressive that the winglet didn’t break off at all. It’s bent up but still holding on strong,’ wrote one X user. ‘The catering truck, on the other hand…’
Another remarked: ‘Yikes… a trend of the times in aviation.’
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