Catering cart almost smashes into plane as it spins out of control on tarmac

Video shows staff diving out the way of marauding vehicle

Staff had to scramble out of the way (Twitter/@emergidoc)

A runaway catering cart came close to injuring staff and smashing into an aircraft as it span out of control at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

Video shot by an onlooker shows the unmanned cart doing increasingly large and unstable doughnuts while employees struggle to scramble out of its path. Trays and food items can be seen strewn all over the tarmac.

A bystander is heard saying, “It’s going to hit the aeroplane, there it goes” just before the cart is disabled by an airport worker driving what looks like a fork-lift truck, to applause and shouts of approval from passengers.

The footage, which was shared on Twitter by Dr Kevin Klauer, chief executive of the American Osteopathic Association, has since gone viral, with almost six million views.

The cart appeared to be driverless and was serving an American Airlines flight.

“American Airlines is investigating an incident involving a catering truck at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport,” the airline said in a statement.

“Preliminary reports indicate that the accelerator became stuck and caused the catering cart to lose control.

”We appreciate the quick action of our team member who stopped the vehicle.

“Safety is our top priority and we are working with our partners to investigate the incident.”

American Airlines added that no staff members were injured in the incident.

It’s not the first time things have gone awry on the tarmac.

In April 2019, two planes collided during foggy weather at East Midlands airport.

A Ryanair plane clipped a stationary Jet2 aircraft while it was taxiing to the stand at the Derbyshire airport.

No passengers were onboard either aircraft at the time of the incident and no one was injured.