The crane operator is a character from Unplugged. She controlled one of the many cranes across London, and was on shift when the Luddites powered down the entire city. She became stuck in the crane she was occupying since the door had an electric lock, and Virgil Tracy couldn't get her out because the equipment necessary was also disabled by the Luddites.
The crane's inability to release its load made its legs unstable, and after Virgil fails to manually release the load quick enough, the crane falls with the operator inside of it. She survives, but remains stuck until Virgil and Grandma Tracy can foil the plans of the Luddites.