An American Airways airplane carrying at the least three members of the USA Congress has been struck on the taxiway by the wingtip of one other American Airways jet at Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says.
American Airways Flight 5490, a Bombardier CRJ 900 headed to Charleston, South Carolina, struck American Flight 4522, an Embraer E175 headed to New York’s John F Kennedy Worldwide Airport, about 12:45pm (16:45 GMT) on Thursday, the FAA mentioned. No accidents had been reported.
Consultant Josh Gottheimer, a New Jersey Democrat, mentioned on social media that he was on the flight to New York when the incident occurred whereas ready to take off on the runway.
The most recent mishap at Reagan Nationwide will intensify scrutiny over how air site visitors is dealt with on the airport simply exterior Washington, DC, which has the only busiest US runway.
The FAA will examine. American Airways mentioned each plane taxied to the terminal and had been taken out of service to be inspected by upkeep groups. The injury was restricted to a winglet on every plane.
Passengers will board substitute plane to proceed their journeys, American added.
Whereas ready to take off on the runway at DCA simply now, one other airplane struck our wing. Fortunately, everyone seems to be secure.
Only a reminder: Latest cuts to the FAA weaken our skies and public security.
— Rep Josh Gottheimer (@RepJoshG) April 10, 2025
There have been 76 passengers and 4 crew members on the South Carolina-bound flight and 67 passengers and 4 crew on the New York-bound flight.
Operations at Reagan in Arlington, Virginia, have come below intense scrutiny since a deadly January 29 collision between an American Airways regional jet and US military helicopter, killing 67 folks. It prompted the FAA to impose everlasting restrictions on helicopter site visitors close to the airport.
The FAA mentioned this week that it put in a brand new administration staff to supervise air site visitors management at Reagan Nationwide.
Senators final month pressed the FAA for failing to behave on hundreds of stories of helicopters in harmful proximity to airplanes close to Reagan.
Final week, the FAA mentioned it might sluggish flight arrivals at Reagan after the collision. Additionally it is growing operational supervisor staffing from six to eight, and an FAA stress administration staff will go to the airport to supply confidential help for employees.
On March 28, a near-miss between a Delta Air Traces airplane departing Reagan Nationwide and a gaggle of air pressure jets approaching Arlington Nationwide Cemetery triggered a cockpit collision warning for the Delta airplane, resulting in renewed security issues and elevating questions on why controllers allowed the Delta airplane to depart.
Additionally final month, a struggle occurred within the Reagan air site visitors management tower, and an worker was arrested and positioned on go away, the FAA mentioned.
