Delta spokesperson Samantha Moore Facteau mentioned in an electronic mail that its Boeing 737 was ready to have ice faraway from its exterior when the wing tip of one other plane reportedly made contact with its tail. Deicing, because it’s recognized, can happen earlier than a flight begins to taxi to the runway, she mentioned.
There have been 142 passengers onboard the flight to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and so they have been being transferred to a brand new plane, she mentioned. There have been no studies of accidents for the crew or passengers.
Jason Chan, one of many passengers on the Delta flight, mentioned the airplane “jiggled backwards and forwards” and shook somewhat bit when the collision occurred. Shortly after, the captain introduced that the airplane’s tail had been hit. Passengers remained calm, Chan mentioned, and ultimately received off the airplane to be bused again to the terminal.
Chan mentioned the entire incident appeared “surreal”, however that his group of six was profiting from it whereas ready within the lounge for his or her rescheduled flight.
Airport operations have been minimally impacted as a result of the incident occurred on a taxi lane, authorities mentioned.
The Federal Aviation Administration will examine, spokesperson Sam Lichtman mentioned in an emailed assertion.