Woman dies in tragic incident at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport
A woman in her 40s tragically died after becoming trapped in machinery within the baggage claim area at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. The incident occurred at Terminal 5, which serves several international airlines.
Unclear circumstances
The victim was found unresponsive and was pronounced dead at the scene. At this time, authorities have not confirmed whether she was a visitor or an airport employee. Both the Chicago Police Department and the Chicago Fire Department have yet to release further details, and the airport has not commented on the incident.
O’Hare International Airport, located near Chicago’s Rosemont area, is one of the busiest airports in the world. As of August 2024, it operates approximately 964 daily direct flights to 171 U.S. cities and 129 daily direct flights to 65 international destinations, according to Fly Chicago. Major airlines such as United Airlines, American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Spirit Airlines operate out of O’Hare.
In January 2023, O’Hare unveiled a major extension to Terminal 5 as part of the O’Hare 21 project. This $1.3 billion, multi-year investment aimed at expanding and modernizing the airport included 10 additional gates, an expanded terminal, and a redesigned international arrivals area.
Similar incidents in the past
This tragic event follows another recent incident in which a woman collapsed and died aboard a Virgin Australia flight. The emergency occurred around 9:30 a.m. on a Monday, and despite the flight crew’s efforts to resuscitate her and an expedited landing at Tullamarine Airport in Victoria, the woman did not survive. A Virgin Australia spokesperson confirmed the incident, stating, “The passenger was taken off the aircraft but unfortunately later passed away.”
The circumstances surrounding the incident at O’Hare remain under investigation, with more information expected as authorities continue to look into the case.