A man was killed after being struck by a snowplow at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International (MSP) Airport during a winter storm on Tuesday night.
The 911 call was made as a winter storm was underway across much of Minnesota on Tuesday night, threatening heavy snow and hazardous travel conditions, the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Police Department said. The 47-year-old man was struck by the vehicle in the LSG Sky Chefs facility parking lot near the airport’s Terminal 2. The incident occurred shortly after 7:30 p.m. CST in the 3100 block of East 73rd Street, according to local media reports.
The fatal collision between a snowplow and a pedestrian at one of the nation’s busiest airports highlights the dangers posed during severe winter conditions, especially for those who work or travel in environments where heavy equipment operates. The incident has prompted an investigation by local and state authorities and raises questions about workplace safety during winter weather events, which are common in Minnesota.
Newsweek reached out to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Police Department and to an airport spokesperson by email for comment.
The man’s identity has not been released as authorities are notifying family members.
Emergency responders arrived after the 911 call reported that a pedestrian had been run over by a snowplow driver in the area, MSP Airport Police said. The facility where the accident occurred, LSG Sky Chefs, provides catering services for multiple airlines at the airport.
An investigation is underway, with the Minnesota State Patrol assisting the police department. No further details about conditions leading up to the accident, whether the man was an employee, or about the snowplow driver have been released publicly.
The crash took place during a winter storm affecting the region, although authorities have not yet stated what role, if any, the weather played in the incident. The area was being actively cleared of snow and ice at the time, a routine procedure at MSP Airport during the winter months.
The MSP airport received more than 4 inches of snow between Tuesday and Wednesday morning, according to a post on X by the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Twin Cities on Wednesday morning.
The heaviest snowfall rates were east of Minneapolis, just slightly northeast of the airport.
“Heavy snow continues across eastern MN/western WI,” NWS Twin Cities posted on X. “Locations across western MN are currently observing a lull in the activity, however another round of light snow (and much stronger winds) will arrive later this evening.”
As of Wednesday morning, no winter weather advisories or winter storm warnings were in place for the airport, although NWS Twin Cities had issued a hazardous weather outlook warning of snow showers and breezy conditions through the afternoon hours.
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