Woman dies after getting trapped in conveyor belt ‘at baggage claim’ in Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport

A WOMAN has been found dead in the luggage conveyor belt at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.

On Thursday at around 8 am, the Chicago Fire Department raced to Terminal 5 of O’Hare International Airport after reports of a person being trapped.

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Police later confirmed it was a woman in her 40s who died at the scene, per CBS News.

It’s not clear if she was an airport employee or a traveler .

Police are still investigating the incident.

The airport has yet to comment on the tragedy.

The U.S. Sun has contacted the Chicago Police Department for comment.

OVER A THOUSAND DAILY FLIGHTS

Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, which opened in 1944, houses all major airlines including United Airlines , American Airlines as well as Frontier Airlines, and Spirit Airlines , per Fly Chicago.

A​s of August 2024, the airport has about ​964 daily direct flights to 171​​ U.S. cities, per Fly Chicago.

It also has approximately 129 daily direct flights to 65​ international destinations.

The international hot spots include destinations in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania.

TERMINAL 5 EXPANSION

In January 2023, a new extension of Terminal 5, which was built in 1993, was unveiled, per O’Hare 21.

Construction for the project began in 2019.

The major changes were part of a $1.3 billion, multi-year investment project to expand and modernize the O’Hare gate.

O’Hare hopes the updates enhance the customer experience and create more efficiency for travelers.

Changes to the terminal included 10 new gates, an expansion of the building, and a reconfiguration of international arrivals.

Airport Tragedies

The U.S. Sun has previouly reported on multiple horrific airport tragedies.

February 2022- A man who helped with ground handling and cargo for major airlines was crushed to death by a 20-ton pallet at London Heathrow’s Terminal 3.

May 2024- A man was sucked into a Cityhopper Embraer E190 engine at Amsterdam airport.

June 2024- An American tourist died on a Fiji Airlines flight to San Fransico after falling sick on the plane.

July 2025- A British tourist died at Reus Airport in Spain after collapsing in the boarding area before getting on a Ryanair flight home.

July 2024- A Virgin Australia passenger died in front of passengers before landing in Melbourne.

It also redesigned the customs and security check area, allowed more space for shops and restaurants, and completely replaced the Baggage Handling System.

Work on the new baggage area was finished earlier this year.

The new space included new conveyance and sortation systems from when a traveler checks in to when their luggage is loaded onto the plane, per O’Hare 21.

There are also five new baggage screening machines which allow double the amount of baggage screening capacity.

O’Hare thought ahead about future demand as well.

It set aside enough space for another screening machine should the terminal need it.

The added screening removes the need for in-lobby baggage screening which frees up space for more check-in desks.