On a bustling evening at New York's LaGuardia Airport, two Delta regional jets collided in a low-speed incident that left one aircraft's wing torn off and a flight attendant with minor injuries. The crash happened around 9:56 p.m. on Wednesday, as one plane was taxiing to the runway for departure while the other had just arrived from Charlotte. Passengers on board described the impact as jarring, with everyone lurching forward in their seats. Indeed, the right wing of the departing Endeavor Air CRJ-900 slammed into the nose and cockpit windows of the incoming jet, shattering glass and denting metal in what authorities are calling a avoidable taxiway tangle.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene, but thankfully, there were no serious casualties among the roughly 100 passengers and crew involved. One flight attendant was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while everyone else was safely bused back to the terminal. Videos circulating online show the detached wing lying on the tarmac, a stark reminder of how even ground operations can go awry at one of the nation's busiest airports. LaGuardia, often criticized for its cramped layout and heavy traffic, has seen its share of near-misses, and this event only heightens those concerns.
Delta Air Lines quickly grounded the damaged planes and issued statements expressing regret, promising full cooperation with investigators. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have launched probes into what caused the collision—possibly a miscommunication or visibility issue in the fading light. Moreover, air traffic control audio captured the pilots' surprise, with one reporting the hit immediately after. However, details remain sketchy as the inquiry unfolds, and flights at LaGuardia continued without major disruptions overnight.
It's incidents like this that underscore the razor-thin margins in aviation, prompting questions about whether more safeguards are needed on the ground to prevent the next close call.