Injuries As American A321 & Bus Collide At LAX

For all the attention to safety that we endure when flying I have long thought it was so ironic that when being bussed to terminals it mostly involves overpacked buses with no safety in the hands of drivers that are clearly not trained properly. It's a major accident waiting to happen. And we are seeing a small preview with this one.

Of course, my favorite during the midst of Covid restrictions were the mobile lounges at IAD, which are always packed to the point of absurdity. A recording used to play that said, "Passengers should remember to social distance at all times on the Mobile Lounge." Oh the laughter as 200 people shoved in together face to face.

Ending up in the hospital may be slightly favorable to reaching the Eagle’s Nest. Likely a better vibe and aesthetic.

AA: "If you're lucky, you'll get an operator of your vehicle on the ground who knows where they are and what they're doing."

Ben those buses have roads to drive on with checker paint borders. Surprised you’re so quick to point the finger at the bus driver. We’ve all been to the “eagles nest” a ton of times. I always sit in the front seat on the right hand side to get a good view for plane spotting.

Ofcourse the tug driver would deny any fault initially and point a finger because they don’t want to lose their job. Both the tug and bus drivers will be tested for alcohol and drugs.

undoubtedly the bus driver is at fault.
The larger point is that AA is still bussing passengers to the Eagle's nest which is not just a safety risk but a huge PIA.
AA has fallen from the #1 airline at LAX; just use regular terminal facilities like everyone else.

How can’t a bus driver see a f…ing plane??

@santastico

You don’t think the tug driver made a sharp turn and jackknifed the bus ?

Must have hit an engine or wheel because those buses can clear under the wings.

Sorry but the bus had to stay far enough of the plane so if a tug makes a sharp turn he is safe. Or do you ride the ass of a semi on a highway? It is called safe driving.

The eagles nest should never have been a permanent solution to start with. All that bus traffic combined with all the other traffic at LAX, it is a miracle worse has not happened.

@Santastico

Why did the tug back up then after the accident ? I’d be accusing the bus driver 100% if I was towing the plane. There’s no evidence. Ramp agents always point the finger. They don’t wanna lose their job.

I believe it will close once the southern portion of the midfield concourse is completed and terminal 4 rebuilt.

AA T4 is down a number of gates due to construction; 1 due to the construction of the connecting facility to T5, and another 4-5 at the end of T4 as I guess they’re updating and re-aligning the gates. I recently saw them have 5 aircraft at TBIT gates as they’re short on gate capacity at T4. The plan is for the Eagle operation to move to T5 once the midfield terminal is expanded, as well as the building of the new T9, which will require the demolition of the Eagle nest anyways … it will be connected to the T7/T8 complex, built over Sepulveda Blvd.

And though AA has reduced international ops at LAX, the domestic ops is the same, and at “Rush Hour” gate availability will always be a challenge.

Back in my SF340 flying days at LAX in the early 2000s, we always referred to the satellite terminal as the “Chicken Coop”! Maybe this was just a crew nickname…..who knows?? It also was in a different location prior to the expansion of TBIT. Hoping for a speedy recovery to those who were injured!

I am aware of the long term plans for AA at LAX from a facilities standpoint as well as of the pending doom of the Eagle's nest.

and AA is indeed smaller domestically than it was pre-covid; the DOT has stats to show that and AA"s decision as well as DL's faster reinstatement of capacity at LAX is why DL has overtaken AA as the largest carrier at LAX and why that is unlikely to change.

long live delta!!

If you are so knowledgeable about the LAX terminal operations and development, then why do you contradict yourself by saying AA Eagle should operate from the main terminal complex, knowing full well that they don’t have the gates?!?!

I’ll agree with you re the flight stats, however. We’ll see what happens after all the renovation dust settles.

Well there you have it. Jesus has spoken. No need for an investigation.

LAX is just begging for this to happen. Between the AA disconnected terminal, the shuttles connecting 3 to Bradley, and Alaska planes just dumping people on the tarmac at the end of 25R (it's happened to me four times), there is way too much vehicle traffic. As in typical Los Angeles fashion, they will wait for a death and then install traffic lights rather than reduce traffic.

They call it the Eagle's Nest now. More regal name, same crappy bungalow.

Lol….very true….but I do believe the current version has an AC whereas the chicken coop definitely did not!!

Not that it matters that much but who do the drivers work for? AA, AE or a subcontractor? You really do get what you pay for.

Im wondering what are the qualifications and pay for airport bus drivers, and the number of hours per shift?

Miami does on average have the worst drivers in the USA. Utterly reckless and dangerous.

D3kingg - absent evidence that the tow operation went "off roading" (out of control for some reason), aircraft have priority in the movement areas. Standard LAWA - as well as other airports - protocol.

As someone who has (limited) permission to drive airside at a decent sized airport, I can assure you that this will end up being the bus drivers' fault. Airport authorities make is crystal clear to you that aircraft ALWAYS have the right of way. Even if they're being towed. And, you must also give them a wide berth, even if they're just parked. Those are basic rules, and that's not getting into which lines were crossed by whom. The aircraft gets first dibs....always.