Tata-owned Air India (AI) Boeing 777 aircraft was hit by some of the cargo containers at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) on October 29, 2024.
The incident was captured by Windy City Wheelman, a Chicago-based driver. He has also shared more details but the picture is worth thousands of words.
Boeing 777, registered as VT-ALH was slightly damaged in Chicago. But there was not much of an impact on aircraft operations.
Air India deployed the VT-ALH on the Delhi (DEL)-Chicago (ORD) route. The flight AI127 from Delhi landed at Chicago O’Hare at 7:47 AM local time.
The return flight departed on time at 12:13 PM local time from Chicago. The incident occurred in between these four hours.
Windy City Wheelman shared on X that, for the third time in less than two weeks, cargo containers have blown toward an aircraft at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
The latest incident occurred on Tuesday, with containers nearly striking an Air India 777-200 parked at the gate. Reports indicate the containers were pushed by the jet blast from a passing ANA 777-300.
Notably, the smaller size of the 777-200 theoretically should have reduced its exposure, but recent incidents suggest these AKE containers have become unpredictable hazards.
Windy Driver said he suspects that a mix of operational carelessness, complacency, and stress may have contributed to these repeated incidents. The fact that operations at O’Hare’s Terminal 5, used extensively for international flights, have only recently seen this pattern raises further questions.
Many are surprised that airport operations haven’t restricted vehicle movement near widebody aircraft during close maneuvers.
The containers, weighing between 200-300 pounds when empty, require two to three people to reposition when blown out of place if a forklift isn’t immediately available.
Recent incidents at Chicago O’Hare underscore the hazards of strong jet blasts on airport ramps, particularly with large aircraft like the Boeing 777 and 787. The risk escalates at busy hubs like O’Hare, where close proximity taxiing and frequent operations are routine.
Reports online suggest that empty cargo containers should have lids or covers and should be latched securely to trailers, yet these protocols seem unobserved—or perhaps the latches are faulty. The recurrence of such incidents raises concerns about lax adherence to these safety measures.
Experienced ramp workers note that open container doors create projectiles even in moderate winds, posing significant dangers. Photos from recent events show container doors left open, amplifying the risk.
These incidents highlight a pressing need for ULD manufacturers to enhance the design and security of containers on dollies to prevent such occurrences.
(source: Aviation A2Z)
