A Delta aircraft clipped the tail of another plane at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The collision occurred as Delta Flight 295 was taxiing for departure and struck Endeavor Air Flight 5526. There were no reported injuries, and maintenance crews are evaluating the damage. The Delta flight was bound for Tokyo, while the Endeavor Air flight was headed to Lafayette, Louisiana. After the incident, Delta Airlines is working to re-accommodate both flights.
This collision comes after two near-collisions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in April, involving JetBlue and Southwest Airlines flights, and in May, involving an American Airlines flight. The incidents prompted the FAA to launch an investigation and address safety concerns at a summit. The agency reported a 33% decrease in serious runway incursions in fiscal year 2024 compared with 2023, with a goal of zero serious close calls.
During the Atlanta incident, radio traffic indicated that someone was heard yelling for both planes to stop before the collision. The near-miss at Washington National Airport involved planes coming within 1,000 feet of each other. In response, the JetBlue plane had to abort takeoff, and the American Airlines flight was instructed to halt takeoff when another plane was cleared to land on an intersecting runway. The incident highlights the importance of air traffic control communication and vigilance to ensure the safety of air travel.
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