Federal investigators have launched a probe into a serious ground collision at Denver International Airport (DEN) that left an airport contractor hospitalized and a Nashville-bound Boeing 737 significantly damaged. The incident occurred during the height of a severe winter storm on Friday morning, March 6, when a United Airlines aircraft made contact with a de-icing truck, causing the specialized vehicle to flip onto its side.
United Airlines Flight 605, a Boeing 737-800 carrying 122 passengers and six crew members, was preparing for departure to Nashville International Airport (BNA) when the accident unfolded at approximately 8:30 a.m. local time. The aircraft was operating on a central de-icing pad, a high-traffic zone designed for pre-flight fluid application, where heavy snow and limited visibility were reported at the time of the impact.
Emergency Response and Injuries
The collision centered on the aircraft’s right wing, which struck the cab of the de-icing truck with enough force to overturn the vehicle. Denver Fire Department crews and paramedics were dispatched immediately to the tarmac. While no injuries were reported among the passengers or flight crew, the operator of the de-icing truck, an employee of a contracted ground-service provider, was trapped in the wreckage before being extracted.
Eyewitnesses on the aircraft described a “jolting impact” followed by the sight of emergency responders attending to the injured worker. The contractor was reportedly stabilized on a backboard and rushed to a local hospital. As of this morning, the specific condition of the worker has not been publicly updated.
Passenger Evacuation and Airline Response
Following the collision, the Boeing 737 was declared non-airworthy due to visible damage to its wingtip and winglet. Passengers were forced to deplane via mobile air stairs onto the snowy tarmac before being transported by bus back to the terminal…