LONG ISLAND CITY — A massive drill bit being used on East Side Access construction project tore through a subway tunnel in Queens on Thursday, hitting the top of an F train that was packed with passengers, officials said.
The incident took place around 11:45 a.m. about 700 feet north of the 21st Street station in Long Island City, when the operator of a Jamaica-bound F train reported that something struck the top of the train, according to an MTA spokesman.
The train's emergency brakes were automatically activated, and the operator investigated and found debris under the third car. She also noticed damage to the top of the train and its windows, the spokesman said.
The drill made contact with the train but did not penetrate the train car, according to the spokesman. No one was injured in the incident.
Another train was brought in behind the damaged train and was used to walk about 800 passengers back to the station platform. Service on the Queens-bound F line was back to normal by 5 p.m.
An MTA spokesman said the drill was being used by a contractor, Griffin Dewatering New England Inc., which was expanding a well as part of the East Side Access project.
A call to the company was not immediately returned Friday.