Plane, truck collide on O'Hare runway

Federal authorities are investigating what caused a regional jet and maintenance truck to dangerously cross paths at O'Hare International Airport early Saturday.

A United Express plane was taxiing from its hanger to a gate along runway 9R/4L when it collided with the truck operated by a Chicago Department of Aviation employee at about 5 a.m.

The plane's impact smashed the truck and pinned the city employee inside. He was extricated by Chicago Fire Department crews and rushed to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, department spokesman Joe Roccasalva said. No further information about his condition was available.

The plane, operated by SkyWest Airlines, was occupied by two mechanics who suffered minor injuries and were taken to Resurrection Medical Center in Chicago.

The runway was closed until 8 a.m. but airport operations were not affected, aviation department spokeswoman Karen Pride said.

Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Elizabeth Isham Cory said it will take several weeks for the agency to study the crash and determine who was at fault.

The National Transportation Safety Board was monitoring the investigation but was not officially involved yet, a spokesman said.

In late July, two airplanes narrowly missed each other at O'Hare, passing within 325 feet. A Learjet was landing on one of the airport's east-west runways at the same time an American Eagle flight was departing on an intersecting runway.