The driver of an aircraft tug was injured when the tug hit the airplane he was towing at Los Angeles International Airport, authorities said Friday.
Paramedics dispatched at 11:58 p.m. Thursday to a location near Gate 159 of the airport did not take the driver to the hospital, according to Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The worker was provided medical care through his employer, China Southern Airlines, according to LAX spokesman Frederick Badlissi. The condition of that person was not immediately known, Badlissi said.
The driver was injured about 11:55 p.m. Thursday when his tug hit the airplane he was towing, an Airbus A380 for China Southern Airlines Flight 328 departing to Guangzhou.
No one was injured among Flight 328’s 447 passengers and flight crew.
It was not immediately known what led to the accident, which occurred in a taxi lane between the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) and Terminal 4, he said.
“Passengers deplaned by using portable stairs and were returned to TBIT, and were accommodated via re-scheduling refunds or hotel rooms,” Badlissi said. “While awaiting accommodations and rescheduling, passengers were provided bottled water and snacks.”
At 4:30 a.m., the China Southern aircraft, which sustained nose gear door damage, was towed back to a Tom Bradley International Terminal gate.
Three flights — the China Southern Airlines flight as well as two American Airlines flights at Terminal 4, impacting approximately 1,060 people — were canceled.
“American Airlines accommodated the passengers on their cancelled flight,” Badlissi said. “China Southern flight’s regular departure is 10:20 p.m.”
