Southwest plane knocks over catering truck

A Southwest plane had just pushed back from Gate 28 at Denver International Airport when the passengers onboard felt a bump. It was probably easy to ignore or shrug off as one of the assorted sounds that accompany any flight, until some people looked out their windows and saw the overturned truck. The wing of the San Jose-bound plane had clipped a catering truck, knocking it onto its side. Passenger Bob Kinney told the Denver Post:

There were a couple of comments, jokes [from fellow passengers]. It didn't seem like anything serious.

Two Denver Fire Department trucks were called to the scene, but there were no fuel leaks or other serious (or flammable) complications. The wing of the plane was damaged enough – or Southwest was cautious enough – that the passengers all deplaned and were told to wait for another aircraft. A Denver Airport spokesperson told 9News that none of the passengers or crew members were injured, but the driver was taken to a nearby hospital for an evaluation.

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In a statement to Road Warrior Voices, Southwest said:

There were no injuries reported onboard the aircraft operating flight 4309 from Denver to San Jose, California, as it was being pushed back from a gate and came in contact with a parked aircraft service vehicle.   The driver of the vehicle, a Southwest Employee, was taken to a local hospital for an evaluation and released. The aircraft involved  was taken  out of service for repairs. The safety of our Customers and Crew is our highest priority and we appreciate the patience of our 143 Customers as we worked to re-accommodate them on another aircraft.