A Delta Air Lines employee was killed late Thursday night at Orlando International Airport after a ground vehicle struck a jet bridge connected to a passenger plane.
The accident occurred around 10:55 p.m. as Delta Flight 2593 was parked at a gate, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration shared with numerous outlets. The agency said a vehicle known as a tug, which is used to move aircraft on the ground, collided with the jet bridge.
Passengers onboard were later evacuated through the rear door using airstairs.
NTD News has contacted the medical examiner’s office for comment.
Delta confirmed the employee’s death in a statement sent to NTD News, saying, “The Delta family is heartbroken at the loss of a team member while on the job at Orlando International Airport on the evening of May 7.”
The airline added that it is “focused on extending our full support to family and taking care of our Orlando team during this difficult time,” and is cooperating with authorities as “a full investigation gets underway to determine what occurred.”
Operations at Delta’s Orlando station were temporarily halted Thursday night as investigators responded to the scene. Service has since resumed, though one departing flight was canceled and affected passengers were rebooked, Delta said.
The Orlando Police Department is leading the investigation, according to a statement from Orlando International Airport provided to NTD News.
Airport officials expressed condolences, saying, “The MCO community is deeply saddened about the loss of a team member from one of our airline partners, a member of our extended airport family. We send our condolences to his family and friends.”
The incident unfolded near a gate area where multiple flights were preparing for arrival and departure. Dozens of emergency vehicles responded, and nearby planes experienced delays, according to WESH.
Scott Endsley, a traveler from Lake Alfred, told WESH he initially thought the activity was routine. “I assumed it was probably a training exercise, right, and then the pilot kind of surprisingly came and made an announcement,” he said. “So, yeah, hearing that that actually happened was kind of sad and kind of a weird feeling.”
Delta emphasized that safety remains its top priority and said it will work with all relevant stakeholders as the investigation continues.
The Orlando Police Department did not return a request for comment from NTD News prior to publication.