The wing of a huge Delta Air Lines jet hit a regional jet at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Tuesday morning, appearing to shear the tail off the smaller aircraft, according to the Federal Aviation Administration and images from the scene. No injuries were reported.
By Ian Duncan
The difference in size between the two aircraft is immense. An A350 stretches about 220 feet long and stands 55 feet tall. The CRJ900 is only about half as long and tall.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it was launching an investigation. Delta said it would cooperate.
Airport officials said passengers from one plane were being taken back to the terminal by bus and that the other plane returned under its own power. The incident was expected to have only minimal impact on other flights, officials said.
The Delta pilots did not initially appear to know what had happened, according to archives of radio traffic with air traffic controllers. One of the pilots asked to stop before adding: “We just hit something on the taxiway. Could you tell us what it was?”
A controller confirmed they had hit the regional jet, according to archives maintained by LiveATC.net. Sirens could soon be heard over the radio.
An emergency responder who arrived at the smaller plane summed up the situation: “We’re standing by on your rear end. It appears your tail section has been knocked over.”
Delta said passengers had been put on alternative planes and apologized.
The regional jet was headed to Lafayette, La. It was carrying a number of journalists traveling to help with coverage of Tropical Storm Francine.
Jason Adams, a meteorologist for WFTS-TV in Tampa, described hearing “very jarring, metal scraping sounds then loud bangs.”
Here’s my photo now that we’ve evacuated the plane. Credit me if you use. Credit: Meteorologist Jason Adams, WTFS TV Tampa pic.twitter.com/wnjeTnrSq0
— Jason Adams (@JasonAdamsWFTS) September 10, 2024
