At least 18 people were taken to the hospital after a vehicle carrying passengers at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) collided with a passenger deboarding dock while approaching the terminal, airport officials confirmed.
The incident, which happened in the evening of November 10, 2025, comes at a time when major airports across the United States are facing disruptions related to the ongoing government shutdown, which has led to reduced staffing, delayed inspections, and strained airport operations.
A mobile lounge that was transporting passengers to Concourse D at Dulles International Airport hit the dock at an angle while it was arriving at the building around 16:30 local time, the airport announced in a statement on November 11, 2025.
Passengers were safely deboarded from the mobile lounge using stairs and were assessed by the Airports Authority Fire & Rescue team for any potential injuries, the statement added.
According to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which manages the airport, at least 18 people were transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries due to the incident.
Video footage and pictures shared on X showed ambulances and fire trucks near the mobile lounge. Inside the building struck by the mobile lounge, damaged doors, cracked walls, and scattered wall debris can be seen.
BREAKING: A mobile lounge crashed into a gate at Dulles International Airport (Virginia), leaving multiple passengers injured.
— Sarcasm Scoop (@sarcasm_scoop) November 11, 2025
At least 18 people have been transported to hospitals, while others are being treated on-site. The impact caused major damage to the people mover and… pic.twitter.com/qvDCNVTOga
Mobile lounges are large, bus-like vehicles used at some airports to transport passengers between the terminal and remote aircraft or concourses.
Dulles International Airport has 19 mobile lounges, each designed to carry up to 102 passengers for a short trip directly to their aircraft, according to the airport’s website.
As of November 12, 2025, the airport is open and fully operational, with the area affected by the incident cleared and secured.