In a jarring incident at New York's LaGuardia Airport, two Delta regional jets collided while taxiing late Wednesday night, leaving one flight attendant with minor injuries and a damaged aircraft in its wake. The low-speed crash happened around 9:56 p.m., involving Endeavor Air flights operated for Delta—Flight 5047, fresh from Charlotte, and Flight 5155 preparing for takeoff. Indeed, the right wing of the departing plane slammed into the nose of the arriving one, ripping off a section of wing and cracking the cockpit windshield, according to air traffic control reports.
Passengers on board described the moment as terrifying yet oddly contained. A CBS producer aboard the Charlotte flight recounted how the plane had just landed and turned sharply off the runway when the impact jolted everyone forward in their seats. "It was super jarring," he said, noting the sudden slam of brakes that followed. No serious injuries among the roughly 85 passengers across both jets, but the lone flight attendant was whisked to a nearby hospital as a precaution after suffering what officials called non-life-threatening wounds. Emergency crews swarmed the tarmac, lights flashing in videos that quickly spread online, showing the mangled wing lying detached amid the evening gloom.
Delta wasted little time in response, confirming the collision and offering those affected hotel stays, meals, and swift rebookings. However, the episode unfolds amid growing scrutiny of LaGuardia's notoriously cramped layout—a hub notorious for delays and tight maneuvers. Moreover, this isn't isolated; aviation experts point to recent staffing cuts and congestion as underlying risks that demand attention. The Port Authority and FAA are now probing the mishap, piecing together how two CRJ-900 jets could veer so perilously close on a routine taxiway.
Indeed, such close calls underscore the razor-thin margins in air travel. As the investigation probes deeper, one can't help but wonder if LaGuardia's aging infrastructure is keeping pace with the skies above.