What happened
At night, a Ford van used for baggage transport was traveling along the designated roadway between the main terminal and a concourse. As the vehicle was crossing the first ramp area after exiting from beneath the terminal, it collided with an MD-88.
The collision occurred as the left main landing gear of the aircraft rolled into the rear of the van. The impact caused the van to catch fire. Due to the incident, the aircraft was evacuated using emergency slides, which resulted in several injuries among those being evacuated.
Findings
At the time of the collision, both the ramp and the aircraft were well-lit, and the MD-88 was positioned in the center of its assigned taxi lane. The driver of the van had completed training in accordance with FAA-required procedures and was familiar with correct operating protocols. However, during the investigation, the driver stated that he did not see the aircraft before the collision occurred.