
Audio By Carbonatix
Two American Airlines jets have had a minor collision on the ground at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, just three months after a deadly crash near there.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the wingtip of one aircraft struck another on the taxiway on Thursday afternoon. Six members of Congress were aboard one of the jets.
Nick LaLota, a New York Republican, said no one was hurt when the wing of their stationary plane was "bumped" by another jet.
Sixty-seven people died on 29 January when an Army helicopter collided in midair with a jetliner as it landed at the same airport.
LaLota posted on X: "Serving in Congress has come with some once in a lifetime experiences… like just now while stationary on the runway at DCA, another plane just bumped into our wing."
"Heading back to the gate, but thankfully everyone is ok," LaLota added.
He said his colleague, Grace Meng, a New York Democrat, was handing out grapes to passengers on the plane.
She posted on X: "I'm grateful no one was hurt today."
In addition to Meng and LaLota, congressman Gregory Meeks, a New York Democrat and congressman Josh Gottheimer, a New Jersey Democrat, confirmed they were on board the flight, too.
Two of those lawmakers said that New York congressmen Adriano Espaillat and Ritchie Torres, both Democrats, were also aboard that craft.
The Federal Aviation Administration said: "The wingtip of American Airlines Flight 5490 struck American Airlines Flight 4522 on a taxiway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport around 12:45pm local time on Thursday, April 10.
"Flight 5490, a Bombardier CRJ 900, was headed to Charleston International Airport in South Carolina. Flight 4522, an Embraer E175, was headed to JFK International Airport in New York. The FAA will investigate."
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport said in a statement that there was no impact on flight operations, and both aircraft returned to gates with no injuries reported.
American Airlines said 76 customers were aboard Flight 5490 and 67 customers were on the other plane, and no injuries were reported.
"Safety is our top priority," the airline said in an emailed statement, "and we apologize to our customers for their experience."
"Both aircraft taxied to the terminal and have been taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance teams," the statement continued. "The damage was limited to a winglet on each aircraft."
An investigation is still ongoing into January's deadly crash involving an American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas, that was landing at Reagan National Airport when it collided with a Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter.
The cause of that disaster remains unknown, but a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended that some helicopter operations near the airport be banned.
Latest Stories
-
Four dead, two critical after Metro Mass bus plunges into ditch on Peki stretch
33 minutes -
Police reinforce security at Kwabenya following gunfire incident involving Adwoa Safo
1 hour -
Kristo Asafo Church to investigate gunfire incident at leadership introduction ceremony
1 hour -
Security fired warning shots after gate breach attempt — Lawyer Kantanka on Adwoa Safo’s incident
2 hours -
Adwoa Safo fired first shot, security responded with warning shots – Kristo Asafo lawyer claims
2 hours -
Police investigates shooting incident involving Adwoa Safo
2 hours -
Father’s Day: ‘Let’s continue to build giants’ – Mahama urges
3 hours -
Frimpong Manso Institute commends fathers for their vital role in families and society
3 hours -
Police investigate death of unidentified man at Tema Metropolitan Assembly forecourt
3 hours -
Sarah Adwoa Safo reportedly injured in alleged shooting incident
4 hours -
CIKOD launches Ghana Universities Movement for Agro-Ecology at DHLTU
4 hours -
Ablakwa hails UG School of Performing Arts for reenactment of Transatlantic Slave Trade
4 hours -
Cape Coast: Toddler confirmed dead, 2 injured as rain induced mudslide destroys homes
5 hours -
Reform education to conform to Artificial Intelligence – Technical universities urged
5 hours -
Signs grow that Starmer will set out timetable to resign as mood in government shifts
5 hours