Drilling rig collapses near Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - Phoenix firefighters say the search for a missing construction worker has turned into a recovery operation after a drilling rig collapsed near Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.

According to the Phoenix Fire Department, one construction worker was unaccounted for after the equipment collapsed at around 9:30 a.m. on Monday, while construction work was being done for the Sky Train system.

"They had finished digging that hole, and were relocating that piece of equipment when the accident took place," said Captain Jake Van Hook with Phoenix Fire.

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According to a statement by Capt. Van Hook, the search for the missing construction worker is now a recovery operation based on length of time since the initial incident, eye-witness accounts, and first responder investigation of the emergency.

A large crane has been brought to the site to move the drilling rig out of the hole, which could take days to complete. Once the rig has been moved, crews will determine the safest way to perform the recovery operation.