Close Call at Reagan Airport: American Airlines Jets Clip Wings on Runway

Two American Airlines jets had a minor bump on the runway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport recently. This incident occurred just three months after a tragic crash at the same airport.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), one plane’s wingtip hit the other aircraft while taxiing. Thankfully, no one was injured in the incident. One of the passengers, Congressman Nick LaLota from New York, shared his experience on social media. He mentioned how his stationary plane was “bumped” by another jet and expressed relief that everyone on board was safe. His colleague, Congresswoman Grace Meng, was even seen handing out grapes to passengers during the event.

The FAA reported that the incident happened around 12:45 PM. American Airlines Flight 5490 was headed to Charleston International Airport in South Carolina, while Flight 4522 was en route to JFK International Airport in New York. There were 76 people on Flight 5490 and 67 on Flight 4522, but all returned to the gate safely.

American Airlines emphasized that passenger safety is their top priority and issued an apology for the disruption. They also noted that the damage was limited to the winglets of both aircraft. Both planes were taken out of service for inspections.

In recent months, aviation safety has been a hot topic, particularly following the harrowing crash in January that claimed 67 lives when a helicopter collided with a passenger jet at the same airport. Investigators are still looking into that incident, which raised concerns about helicopter operations near the airport. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has suggested changing some regulations to improve safety.

These events highlight the ongoing challenges and risks in air travel, particularly in busy airports. Experts stress the importance of constant safety improvements and rigorous training for airline staff to prevent such incidents in the future.



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