Emergency services responded to a tragic incident at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on Thursday morning when a 57-year-old woman was found dead, entangled in a luggage conveyor belt. Firefighters were alerted at approximately 7:45 a.m. after reports of a person trapped in machinery within a non-public baggage processing area. Upon arrival, they discovered the woman caught in the conveyor system used for moving luggage. Despite immediate efforts to assist, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities have confirmed that the victim was not an employee of the airport, and her identity has not yet been disclosed. Surveillance footage revealed that she entered the baggage room at 2:27 a.m., but the area is not monitored in real-time, leading to delays in emergency response. The police have since initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
This tragic event has raised concerns about safety protocols in non-public areas of airports. Similar accidents have occurred in the past, including a fatal incident involving an employee at New Orleans airport in 2022 and a passenger death at Paris-Orly airport in 2012. As investigations continue, airport officials are urged to review and enhance safety measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.
