An American Airlines employee has 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 disclosed by either the airline or the airport authorities, it is understood that just a single vehicle was involved and that no one else was injured due to the collision. A photo from the scene shows numerous airport emergency vehicles surrounding a group of baggage carts at the scene close to Concourse B at the airport.  

According to abc News, emergency and medical crews responded immediately and attended the incident scene. However, the employee, who has not yet been named, was found to have sustained fatal injuries and could not be saved. The airport said it is working closely with airline partners and first responders to fully investigate the situation, which will also involve representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration.

“Our deepest condolences go out to the employee’s family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time,” said airport officials via an official statement. “The Airport is working closely with airline and first responder partners in the ongoing investigation and is providing support as needed. Airport chaplains are available onsite.”

According to a report published by the local news outlet WCCB Charlotte, a North Carolina resident, Kevin Ullman, witnessed the whole incident unfold from his seat on an airplane parked close to the incident. Ullman was quoted as saying that the ground vehicle involved, understood to be a luggage cart, was reversing at the time and that the victim may have been in a blind spot for the driver of that vehicle as it did so.

“I think the gentleman that got ran over, thought he was going to pull forward but was in that blind spot. So, he just started walking and the driver didn’t see him, and he just started backing up,” said Ullman.

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