In a shocking incident at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, two Delta Airlines planes collided on a runway Tuesday morning, marking a rare and unnerving event at the world’s busiest airport. The accident occurred just after 10 a.m. when Delta flight DL295, an Airbus A350 en route to Tokyo, clipped the tail of regional flight DL5526, a Bombardier CRJ-900 headed for Louisiana, during taxiing.
Images from the scene depict the damage, with the tail of the Louisiana-bound Bombardier bent at a startling 90-degree angle. The smaller jet, operated by Endeavor Air for Delta, weighs just 47,250 lbs compared to the massive 239,000 lb Airbus, which sustained damage to its wingtip. Despite the significant size difference between the two planes, early reports suggest that none of the 277 passengers aboard the two aircraft were injured.
WTFS Tampa meteorologist Jason Adams, a passenger on the Bombardier, recounted the terrifying experience. “Well that was terrifying,” Adams posted on X (formerly known as Twitter). “Taxiing out for the flight from Atlanta to Louisiana and another plane appears to have clipped the back of our plane. Very jarring, metal scraping sounds then loud bangs. We’re fine. No fire or smoke. Awaiting instructions.”
Delta Airlines confirmed the sequence of events in a statement, explaining that the Airbus A350 struck the tail of the regional jet as it was taxiing on an adjacent runway. The regional plane was forced to remain on the tarmac, while the larger Airbus was able to taxi back to its gate under its own power. Both aircraft were evacuated safely, with passengers transported back to the terminal for alternate travel arrangements.
Airport authorities have assured the public that the incident has had minimal impact on operations. “At approximately 10:07 this morning, two aircraft made contact at the intersection of taxiways E and H on the north airfield,” the airport stated. “At this time, no injuries are reported. Passengers from one of the aircraft are being bussed from the incident to the concourses. The second aircraft taxied under its own power to a concourse where passengers will deplane at their gate.”
#BREAKING : Two Delta Airlines planes collide on runway at Georgia airport.
The crash occurred after Tokyo-bound flight DL295 hit the back of flight DL5526 to Louisiana as it was taxiing for takeoff.
The wing of the Airbus 350 ‘made contact’ with the tail of an Endeavor Air… pic.twitter.com/jrleI05gqm
— upuknews (@upuknews1) September 10, 2024
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the collision, with Delta confirming its full cooperation with authorities. While such incidents are rare, the close proximity of large aircraft in busy airfields like Atlanta underscores the importance of safety measures and constant vigilance.
This incident follows several other recent safety concerns for Delta Airlines. Last month, a Rome-bound Delta flight was forced to return to Boston after being struck by lightning over the Atlantic Ocean. Earlier in the year, a Delta flight out of Aruba made an emergency landing after an engine failure during takeoff, further emphasizing the risks inherent in air travel, despite stringent safety protocols.
These accidents are beginning to escalate. We’ve gone from tires popping off planes, near misses on the runway to collisions.