11.08.2026 15:20
Flight traffic was temporarily halted after a ground handling vehicle collided with a private jet at Milan-Linate Airport. Miraculously, no one was injured in the accident, but air traffic experienced a 30-minute disruption.
Heart-stopping moments occurred at Milan-Linate Airport in Italy. Flight traffic was temporarily halted after a ground service vehicle struck a private jet moving on the runway, prompting fire crews and emergency responders to be dispatched to the scene.
The incident took place on Monday at around 11:20 AM. Footage shows the ground service vehicle rapidly colliding with a Hawker Beechcraft 400A private jet moving along the runway.
The private jet, reported to be worth approximately £1 million, was taxiing on the runway at the time of the accident. Following the Fiat Panda's collision with the jet, significant damage occurred to both vehicles.
Due to the impact, the front of the Fiat Panda was extensively crushed, while the vehicle's passenger-side door and window were completely shattered by the jet's nose section. The private jet reportedly sustained damage to its radome and front section.
Immediately after the accident, airport fire crews rushed to the scene. The teams inspected the damage to the private jet, checking for any structural issues or fuel leaks.
First responders also assessed the condition of the driver, who remained inside the vehicle. The driver did not exit the vehicle until emergency crews arrived at the scene.
Despite the alarming footage of the accident, miraculously no one was injured.
Flight traffic disrupted at the airport
The accident not only caused damage to the vehicles but also briefly affected air traffic at Milan-Linate Airport.
As a result of the incident, there was an approximately 30-minute disruption to flight traffic at the airport. Due to the airport's congestion and the scheduling of numerous aircraft landings or takeoffs at the same time, some flights had to be diverted to other airports.
An ITA Airways aircraft arriving from Rome to Milan-Linate was diverted to Bergamo Airport, while a KLM flight was redirected to Milan-Malpensa Airport.
Additionally, another private jet entered a holding pattern in the air before landing and subsequently landed safely at the airport.
Investigation into why the vehicle lost control
One of the most pressing questions following the accident was how the ground service vehicle driver managed to hit the private jet moving on the runway.
The reason the vehicle went out of control has not yet been clarified.
According to initial claims, it is considered that the driver may have been distracted or may have suffered a medical issue during the incident. However, none of these possibilities have yet been confirmed by officials.
It was reported that normal operations at the airport resumed shortly after the incident.
Authorities will conduct a more detailed inspection to determine the extent of the damage to the private jet. It is expected to be determined whether the damage to the aircraft's front section affects its structural safety.
While the fact that the accident resulted in no loss of life or injuries is considered a great stroke of luck, the incident has also raised questions regarding runway safety and the operations of ground service vehicles at Milan-Linate Airport.