Delta Airlines has issued an updated statement following a runway collision between two of its planes at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Tuesday morning.
“At around 10:07 a.m., the wing of an Airbus A350, operating as DL295 from Atlanta to Tokyo-Haneda, made contact with the tail of an Endeavor Air CRJ-900, DL5526 to Lafayette, Louisiana, on an adjacent taxiway,” the airline said. “This resulted in damage to the tail of the regional jet and the wing of the A350.”
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported, and passengers were transported back to the terminal for rebooking on alternate flights. There were 221 passengers on DL295 and 56 on DL5526. Delta does not anticipate any further operational disruptions at this time.
The airline is cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and other authorities investigating the incident.
The collision occurred as one of the planes was preparing for takeoff to Lafayette. Witnesses stated that the A350’s wing clipped the rear of the regional jet, startling passengers on both aircraft.
Meteorologist Jason Adams, a passenger onboard one of the planes, described the experience as “very jarring” and posted on social media, “Metal scraping sounds followed by loud bangs. We’re okay. No fire or smoke.”
Adams added that passengers were evacuated onto the tarmac and awaited further instructions. Delta has apologized for the disruption and is working to re-accommodate affected passengers. The cause of the collision is still under investigation.
This incident comes on the heels of scrutiny over Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, the world’s busiest, following the tragic death of two Delta employees during routine maintenance earlier this summer when a plane tire exploded. The airport is a key hub for Delta’s operations.
