18 Injured as Mobile Lounge Crashes Into Terminal at Washington Dulles Airport

At least 18 people were injured on Monday when a people carrier, known locally as a mobile lounge, crashed into a terminal dock at Washington Dulles International Airport, authorities said.

The incident occurred at about 16:30 EST (21:30 GMT), according to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA). The vehicle struck the dock at an angle, causing damage to the terminal structure. Passengers exited the carrier via stairs and were transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The mobile lounge had been ferrying passengers from Concourse D at the time of the collision. It remains unclear how many people were onboard.

Dulles Airport, located in Virginia and serving the Washington DC region, has used mobile lounge vehicles since 1959. Each unit can carry more than 100 passengers, though the system has been widely criticized as outdated. The airport currently operates a fleet of 19.

Airport spokeswoman Crystal Nosal said the airport remains open and flights are operating normally.

The crash comes amid ongoing nationwide air travel disruptions linked to the US government shutdown. Dulles is among 40 airports ordered to cut air traffic by up to 10% due to staffing shortages.

Criticism of the mobile lounge system has resurfaced in recent days. During a confirmation hearing last week, a former Trump administration official nominated to the MWAA board called the vehicles “a relic of the past” and “an embarrassment” for international travelers arriving in the US capital.

NBC Washington previously reported that mobile lounges were involved in 16 accidents between 2007 and 2017, including one that resulted in a fatality.