Woman dies at Chicago's O'Hare Airport after being crushed by conveyor belt in baggage area

A woman's mangled corpse was discovered in the luggage conveyor belt at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago .

Reports of an individual trapped inside the conveyer belt were sent to the Chicago Fire Department around 8 a.m. Thursday, prompting officials to race to Terminal 5 of the airport to free the victim. The woman was said to be in her 40s, according to police who confirmed that she died at the scene .

It was not made immediately clear whether the woman worked at the airport or was a traveler looking for her luggage. The investigation is still underway. O'Hare International, opened in 1944, acts as a hub for all major airlines including United Airlines, American Airlines as well as Frontier Airlines, and the notoriously cheap Spirit Airlines , per Fly Chicago.

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The airport has around 965 direct flights daily, which transport passengers to 171 US cities as of August 2024, according to Fly Chicago. Internationally, the airport has approximately 129 direct flights to 65 different locations. Some of the most popular destinations to travel to include countries in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. The airport introduced a new section of Terminal five in January 2023, according to O'Hare 21.

The add-on was planned last decade with construction beginning in 2019. The changes were part of a broader $1.3 million, multi-year investment project aimed at expanding the O'Hare gate with a fresh modern look. The extension is meant to enhance the customer experience as traveling by plane isn't always the calmest journey. The space was also said to maximize efficiency for customers.

The new terminal brought 10 new gates, an expansion of the building, and a reconfiguration of international arrivals. The customs and security area have had a rework as well, allowing more space for shops and other restaurants as well as replacing the Baggage Handling System.

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In March, a woman perished while aboard an American Airlines flight from the Dominican Republic to Charlotte in the US soon after reporting she had fallen ill. The passenger, 41, told the crew onboard Flight 2790 about her medical needs, so they diverted to Providenciales International Airport in the Turks and Caicos, according to an American Airlines spokesperson.

Air Traffic Control contacted Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force around 6:12 p.m. that evening requesting assistance for the passenger who was receiving CPR as the two agencies spoke. She was rushed to Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, where she was later pronounced dead.

“First responders met the aircraft, and one passenger was taken to the local hospital. The flight continued to Charlotte the following day,” American Airlines said in its statement.