ABC Action News crew members found themselves in a precarious situation aboard a Delta flight destined for Louisiana, as the tail of another aircraft unexpectedly collided with their wingtip.
This unnerving event, which took place at Atlanta-Hartsfield International Airport, involved an Airbus A350 and an Endeavor Bombardier CRJ900. Both planes were taxiing when their paths intersected at a taxiway intersection, leading to a disturbing collision. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the incident occurred at precisely that critical juncture.
Atlanta plane incident
The FAA reported that the smaller Endeavor Bombardier CRJ900 lost its tail due to the impact.
Onboard the Endeavor was ABC Action News Meteorologist Jason Adams, alongside his fellow crew members, who were en route to Lafayette, Louisiana. Their mission was to support KATC, their sister station, in covering hurricane developments.
Adams vividly recalled the chaotic moment: “The next thing you know, we hear metal scraping loudly, like banging, almost like a tire popping. In about 15 seconds, it was all done. People were screaming; it was jarring enough that many thought we had been involved in a catastrophic crash.”
The Airbus A350, at the time of the incident, was preparing for a long-haul flight to Japan. Air Traffic Control recordings revealed a confused environment in the cockpit, as the crew tried to ascertain what had transpired.
Airbus A350 pilot — “We just hit something on the taxiway. Can you tell me what it was?”
Unknown — “The whole tail of that CRJ is off.”
ATC — “Delta 295, hold short of Victor. It appears you’ve struck the RJ that’s holding short of Runway 8 right.”
Airbus pilot — “Okay, that’s what we hit then. We were off the center line. Instructions were to echo short of Victor—understood, thank you.”
Following the incident, Delta released a statement detailing the occurrence at Atlanta-Hartsfield International around 10:07 a.m. They reported, “The wing of an Airbus A350 taxiing as DL295 from Atlanta to Tokyo-Haneda made contact with the tail of an Endeavor Air CRJ900, DL5526 to Lafayette, Louisiana, on an adjacent taxiway, resulting in damage to both aircraft.” It was reassuring to learn that no injuries had been reported, and passengers were redirected back to the terminal to find alternate flights.
A total of 221 travelers were aboard DL295, while 56 were on DL5526. Delta assured that operational adjustments would not be necessary at this time.
Captain Shem Malquist, an active Boeing 777 pilot, reflected on the incident as a sober reminder of the potential for mishaps in aviation. “Many people don’t appreciate that from the flight deck, I can’t see my wing tips,” he explained. “Even if I press my head against the glass, the tips are far too back. It’s not always as straightforward as clearing for obstacles in front.”
Ground collisions, though alarming, are not entirely uncommon. The National Transportation Safety Board noted 281 non-fatal incidents on airport taxiways between 2012 and 2021. Runway incursions occur even more frequently; statistics reveal over 1,400 since October 2023 alone.
In the aftermath of Tuesday’s collision, passengers from the regional jet were bused back to the terminal while the Airbus A350 taxiing back safely to the gate with its travelers. Delta committed to assisting all passengers in rebooking their flights.
The FAA now leads the investigation to determine further details surrounding the incident.
ABC Action News took the opportunity to engage with residents of Pinellas County about their priorities for the upcoming election.
St. Petersburg voters voice what’s most important to them in the upcoming election
Send your story idea and tips to Katie LaGrone
