18 People Injured After Mobile Passenger Lounge Crashes Into Terminal Gate at Dulles International Airport, Prompting Federal Investigation
DULLES, Va. — Federal investigators and emergency crews are responding after a mobile passenger lounge crashed into a terminal gate at Dulles International Airport, injuring at least 18 people and disrupting operations late Sunday night.
Officials said the vehicle, which was carrying dozens of passengers to a concourse, struck the docking area at an angle while approaching the terminal, causing severe damage to both the people mover and part of the gate structure.
Emergency Response and Injuries Reported
Airport fire and rescue teams arrived within minutes, treating passengers at the scene and transporting at least 18 individuals to nearby hospitals for further evaluation. Several others sustained minor injuries but were released on-site.
Authorities confirmed that no fatalities occurred, but several passengers experienced serious trauma from the impact.
Footage shared from the airport shows multiple emergency vehicles and flashing lights surrounding United Airlines gates, as first responders worked to secure the damaged section of the terminal.
Federal and Local Investigations Underway
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority confirmed that a federal safety investigation is now underway to determine whether the crash was caused by mechanical failure, driver error, or a systems malfunction in the vehicle’s docking alignment.
“The safety of our passengers is our highest priority,” the airport said in a statement. “We are cooperating fully with federal authorities to identify the cause of this incident and ensure that all operations meet strict safety standards.”
Airport engineers have been inspecting the terminal structure for signs of instability or internal damage before reopening affected gates.
Temporary Flight Delays Reported
The collision caused temporary delays for several evening departures, though Dulles Airport officials said most flights resumed after safety teams cleared adjacent gates. Ground transport operations were also rerouted to prevent congestion near the impacted terminal.
Passengers on social media reported confusion and panic following the crash, with some describing the sound as “like a small explosion” when the vehicle hit the building.
Passenger Accounts
One traveler who was onboard the mobile lounge told local media, “We were just about to dock when everything jolted forward — people screamed, and bags flew everywhere.”
Another passenger said the impact threw several people to the ground: “It was chaos for a few seconds, and then we saw broken glass and alarms going off.”
Continuing Investigation
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and local authorities are coordinating to reconstruct the vehicle’s movement prior to impact and analyze whether any equipment malfunction or operator misjudgment played a role.
As of Monday morning, the airport confirmed that all injured passengers were receiving medical care and that full operations at the affected gate would resume once structural safety checks were complete.
For ongoing updates on the Dulles Airport investigation, follow SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
