"Plane Collides With Philadelphia Airport Vehicle"

Friday, October 29, 2004

Plane Collides With Airport Vehicle
KYW-TV Ch 3 (CBS), Philadelphia (PA)


PHILADELPHIA (KYW) A commercial airliner apparently collided Wednesday with
an airport support vehicle while taxiing to a runway at Philadelphia
International Airport. Now, the Federal Aviation Administration is
conducting its own investigation into the incident.

CBS 3's Walt Hunter reports with more flights being added at the airport,
it's not just the skies that are becoming crowded.

Investigators say that a US Airways Express plane with 41 passengers aboard
bound for Montreal, Canada, collided with a Ford Explorer support vehicle
while making its way toward the runway for takeoff. 

Hunter has learned the plane's wing slashed through the vehicle and injured
its driver, Wilbur Smith: "All of a sudden, bam.I got hit. No warning, just
bam. When I saw the plane, you know I really could not believe a plane had
just hit me. I'm in a yellow vehicle, with yellow lights flashing and you
hit me? How?"

"It not only caused substantial damage to the vehicle but it dragged the
vehicle about 30 feet," said Philadelphia Police Inspector Bill Calarulo. 

Fortunately the passengers aboard the plane in addition to four crew members
were not hurt. However, Smith was hospitalized with minor injuries: "The way
that wing hit the car.if it would have kept on going instead of pushing me
forward, I don't think I would be sitting here right now because that wing
would have come all the way to where I was at and kept on going and I would
have probably been halfway decapitated or something."

Officials confirm that the vehicle was apparently parked in the grass median
near the taxi-way when the plane struck it.

FAA officials are now looking into the crash and quote: "We are
investigating the cause of damage to the right wing of the aircraft. All
passengers were evacuated as a precaution."

Although there is no word yet on what caused the accident, Hunter says the
passengers aboard the plane were put on another aircraft bound for their
final destination.

In addition, there has been no confirmation as to whether or not regulations
regarding both aircraft and support vehicles on the tarmac will be changed.

As for Smith, he has since been released from the hospital but still suffers
from neck and back pains. He plans to return to work on Monday.


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