Passenger Bridge Collapses At Denver Airport; No Injuries

Friday, March 30th 2007, 5:56 pm

By: News On 6

DENVER (AP) _ An empty passenger bridge collapsed Friday over the wing of a United Airlines plane at Denver International Airport, damaging the aircraft but causing no injuries, the airline said.

The cause of the collapse and the extent of the damage were not immediately known.

The Boeing 757 had just arrived from Boston and the 184 passengers and crew were still on board, United spokeswoman Megan McCarthy said.

The bridge extends from the concourse to the plane. The one that collapsed is a new type that extends over the wing so passengers can use both the front and rear exits of the plane.

The collapse occurred in the rear portion of the bridge, McCarthy said. The aircraft will be moved and repaired after the bridge is raised, she said.

The plane had been scheduled to fly to New York's LaGuardia Airport, but that flight was canceled and the passengers were being booked on other flights.

Denver is one of the first airports to use the over-the-wing bridge, manufactured by Dewbridge Airport Systems based in Ottawa.

Dewbridge Vice President Neil Hutton said the company is investigating, and had no idea what caused the collapse.