An American Airways aircraft carrying a minimum of three members of the US 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 stated. No accidents have been reported.
Consultant Josh Gottheimer, a New Jersey Democrat, stated 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 newest 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 one busiest US runway.
The FAA will examine. American Airways stated each plane taxied to the terminal and have been taken out of service to be inspected by upkeep groups. The harm was restricted to a winglet on every plane.
Passengers will board alternative plane to proceed their journeys, American added.
Whereas ready to take off on the runway at DCA simply now, one other aircraft struck our wing. Fortunately, everyone seems to be protected.
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 underneath intense scrutiny since a deadly January 29 collision between an American Airlines regional jet and US army helicopter, killing 67 folks. It prompted the FAA to impose everlasting restrictions on helicopter site visitors close to the airport.
The FAA stated this week that it put in a brand new administration group to supervise air site visitors management at Reagan Nationwide.
Senators final month pressed the FAA for failing to behave on 1000’s of studies of helicopters in harmful proximity to airplanes close to Reagan.
Final week, the FAA stated it might sluggish flight arrivals at Reagan after the collision. It’s also rising operational supervisor staffing from six to eight, and an FAA stress administration group will go to the airport to supply confidential help for employees.
On March 28, a near-miss between a Delta Air Lines aircraft departing Reagan Nationwide and a gaggle of air power jets approaching Arlington Nationwide Cemetery triggered a cockpit collision warning for the Delta aircraft, resulting in renewed security considerations and elevating questions on why controllers allowed the Delta aircraft to depart.
Additionally final month, a combat occurred within the Reagan air site visitors management tower, and an worker was arrested and positioned on depart, the FAA stated.
