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Woman dies after being ‘trapped in a plane’ at baggage claim at Chicago airport


Woman dies after being ‘trapped in a plane’ at baggage claim at Chicago airport

Police have identified the black woman who died in the baggage claim area at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on August 8. Her name is Virginia Christine Vinton.

USA Today claims that Chicago Fire Department found Vitton unconscious in Terminal 5 and pronounced her dead at the scene. According to ABC7 Chicago, authorities claimed the woman was trapped in the baggage conveyor belt. Fire Department responded to a 911 call at 7:45 a.m. that someone was “trapped in a plane” in the airport.

Vinton, 57, of Waxhaw, North Carolina, reportedly did not work at O’Hare Airport. Some media outlets have published photos of the deceased, but it is unclear if she had a social media presence. Aside from her death, not much is publicly known about the deceased woman.

What happened to Virginia Christine Vinton?

A Cook County coroner ruled her death a suicide due to hanging and suffocation.

Authorities claim that footage from O’Hare Airport shows Vitton walking into a restricted area around 2:30 a.m. on the morning of her death. When she – an unauthorized person – entered the area, there were reportedly no airport employees there. The area is reportedly used to transport luggage between planes and Terminal 5, where international flights are handled. As authorities continue to investigate the woman’s death, they are looking for answers about her time at the airport.

O’Hare’s Terminal 5, or T5, was completed last year after years of expansion. The new construction includes 10 new terminals, 13 additional security checkpoints, more dining options and a major modernization. According to CBS News, it added 350,000 square feet to the 750,000 square feet of existing space. The international terminal has reportedly increased its capacity by 25%.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Hotline at 988. Mental health resources include the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the National Alliance on Mental Health.

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