The baggage handler told Chicago police he was intoxicated and fell asleep in the plane's cargo hold.
An intoxicated American Airlines baggage handler took a nap inside the cargo hold of a Boeing 737 in Kansas City and woke up about an hour later in Chicago, police said.
The 27-year-old employee, who was not named, works for American subsidiary Piedmont Airlines. He was discovered by ground personnel at O'Hare International when the flight landed about 7 a.m. Saturday, authorities said.
Chicago Police Department spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the man told officers he was intoxicated and had fallen asleep. Charges were not filed against him and he was flown back to Kansas City, Guglielmi said.
The employee has been suspended pending an investigation, the airline said. Because the hold was heated and pressurized, the worker was not injured.
"Our top priority is ensuring the well-being of the Piedmont employee," the carrier said in a statement. "He did not request any medical attention upon arrival in Chicago, and we are grateful that he did not sustain any injuries.
"The American team is very concerned about this serious situation, and we are reviewing what transpired with our Piedmont and Kansas City colleagues."
RELATED STORIES
