A United Airlines jet collided with a de-icing truck at Denver International Airport on Friday morning, sending a ground worker to the hospital and forcing passengers to exit the aircraft on the tarmac.
United Airlines Flight 605 struck the vehicle around 8:30 a.m. local time while leaving the airport's de-icing pad, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The collision injured an employee of the de-icing contractor, who was transported to a hospital, according to a United Airlines statement provided to NTD News. The airline did not disclose the severity of the worker's injuries.
Following the collision, passengers were directed off the plane using portable air stairs and bused to the terminal, where a different flight was arranged, a United spokesperson said.
The FAA noted the incident occurred in an area where air traffic control does not direct aircraft movement but noted that they will investigate the incident.
"United flight 1207 safely returned to Newark following a bird strike," the airline said in a statement. "Customers deplaned normally at the gate and we arranged for a new aircraft to take them to Jacksonville."
"The safety of our customers and crewmembers is always our first priority," JetBlue said in a statement at the time.