ATLANTA– Two Delta Air Lines planes collided on a taxiway at Atlanta’s airport Tuesday morning, with a larger plane blowing off the tail of a smaller regional jet.
No injuries were reported and Delta said passengers are being rebooked on other flights.
Atlanta-based Delta reported that the wing of a Delta Airbus A350 jet en route to Tokyo struck the tail of a smaller Bombardier CRJ-900 jet that was parked on an adjacent taxiway. The smaller plane, operated by Delta subsidiary Endeavor Air, was preparing to take off for Lafayette, Louisiana.
Jason Adams, a meteorologist with WFTS-TV in Tampa, Florida, who travels to Louisiana to cover Tropical Storm Francine, reported on social media platform X from the moment of impact.
“Well, that was scary,” Adams wrote. “We were taxiing for the flight from Atlanta to Louisiana and another plane appears to have hit the back of our plane. Very jarring, metal scraping sounds and then loud bangs. We are fine. No fire or smoke.”
Adams posted photos from the tail of the smaller plane which ended up on its side and onto the taxiway.
Delta reported that the wing of the larger plane was also damaged.
Officials at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport said passengers from one plane were bused back to the terminal, while the other plane returned to a gate under its own power. There were 221 passengers on the Airbus and 56 on the regional jet.
Delta said it would work with the National Transportation Safety Board and other authorities to investigate. The Federal Aviation Administration said it was also investigating.
Airport officials described the disruptions to operations at the world’s busiest airport as “minimal”.