An American Airlines employee is being hailed as a hero for stopping a runaway fuel truck from hitting airplanes and other airport property.
Longtime airline employee Darren Carbone was guiding a plane away from its gate at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport on Tuesday when he noticed an unmanned fuel truck rolling backward toward an airport gate.
He jumped into the truck and stepped on its brakes to prevent a crash and possibly a huge explosion.
“I immediately dropped my wand that I was walking the wing with and ran after the truck and stepped on the brake before it could hit the terminal or plane or anybody,” he told the Daily News. The truck rolled backward on the ramp, without a driver, until Carbone leapt into the vehicle, surveillance video shows. It was within 50 yards of colliding with other planes, vehicles, and airport personnel, Carbone said.
“A fuel truck is basically a bomb. It’s got a tank in the back with thousands of gallons of gasoline, very volatile,” aviation consultant Denny Kelly told Fox 4.
American Airlines lauded the employee’s effort.
“We applaud our team member’s quick thinking and action to prevent any injury to personnel as well as damage to the aircraft or other property at our largest hub,” the airline said in a statement.
Kelly said Carbone made the right move, as the truck built up speed and rolled toward the gate. “If he hadn’t stopped it, it could very easily have run into an airplane full of people,” Kelly said. “The guy’s a hero as far as I’m concerned. That could’ve been a disaster.”
American Airlines said an investigation is underway. The fuel vendor is trying to determine how the truck ended up in motion.
Carbone, who described the incident as “scary,” said he’s thankful no one was injured.
“Immediately, I instinctively ran after the truck to try to stop it, and I did,” he said.
