In a startling mishap at New York's LaGuardia Airport, two Delta Air Lines regional jets slammed into each other on the taxiway late Wednesday evening, leaving one flight attendant with minor injuries and prompting a swift federal probe. The collision, described by airline officials as low-speed, unfolded around 9 p.m. as one plane prepared for takeoff to Roanoke, Virginia, and the other had just arrived from Charlotte, North Carolina. Passengers on board—32 on the departing flight and 61 on the inbound—were safely deplaned and bused back to the terminal, where Delta provided meals, hotel stays, and rebooked flights for those affected.
Details emerged quickly from air traffic control audio and initial statements, revealing that the right wing of the outbound jet struck the fuselage of the arriving aircraft, shattering cockpit windows and even shearing off part of a wing. One crew member suffered a non-life-threatening injury, possibly from the sudden jolt that sent passengers lurching forward in their seats. Eyewitness videos circulating online captured the chaotic aftermath, with emergency crews swarming the scene under the airport's bright lights, underscoring yet another reminder of the vulnerabilities even on the ground at one of the nation's busiest hubs.
However, Delta emphasized that airport operations faced no disruptions, a small mercy amid the frenzy. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are now digging into what went wrong, with the carrier vowing full cooperation to review safety protocols. Indeed, such incidents, though rare, highlight the razor-thin margins in air travel logistics. Moreover, as investigators sift through the wreckage, questions linger about taxiway congestion at LaGuardia, long criticized for its cramped layout.
Still, for the travelers involved, the scare was all too real, a abrupt halt to what should have been routine journeys. In the end, one can't help but wonder how close calls like this shape the ongoing push for safer skies.