At least 18 passengers were hospitalized after a people mover collided with a building dock at Dulles International Airport on Monday afternoon, authorities said.
The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. local time when a “mobile lounge” transporting travelers to Concourse D struck the dock “at an angle as it was pulling up to the building,” according to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA).
All passengers deboarded via stairs and were evaluated by Airport Fire & Rescue personnel. Eighteen people were taken to nearby hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, officials confirmed.
“The airport is open and operating as normal,” MWAA said in a statement.
Dulles International Airport, which serves the Washington, D.C. area, operates 19 mobile lounges—vehicles that are 54 feet long and 16 feet wide and can carry up to 102 passengers. Authorities have not confirmed how many people were aboard at the time of the crash.
An NBC4 Washington investigation in 2017 revealed that Dulles’ mobile lounges had been involved in at least 16 crashes or mishaps since 2007.
The incident comes amid broader travel disruptions, as Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently announced a 10% flight reduction across 40 major U.S. airports due to the ongoing government shutdown, now in its 40th day.
Dulles Airport has warned travelers that limited staffing for security screening and air traffic control could lead to delays or cancellations during the shutdown.
Passengers with flight concerns are advised to contact their airlines directly for the latest updates.
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