Two packed Delta jets smashed into each other on LaGuardia Airport’s taxiway in a shocking late-night collision. The terrifying crash left one plane’s wing ripped clean off and a flight attendant injured.
The regional CRJ-900 jets, operated by Delta’s Endeavor Air, clipped wings just before 10pm Wednesday while taxiing slowly. One plane was left with a mangled wing, the other with a dented nose.
“We got absolutely smashed by another Delta flight… I don’t know who hit who, but it was super jarring. Everyone shot forward in their seats. It was chaotic and shocking,” said a CBS News producer on board.
Chaos, Injuries, and Stranded Passengers
- No passengers were hurt in the crash.
- One flight attendant suffered injuries that are not life-threatening and was hospitalised as a precaution.
- All 85 passengers were evacuated and bussed back to Terminal C.
- Emergency crews, including firefighters and police, swarmed the scene quickly to secure the area.
The planes involved were Endeavor Air flights 5155 (to Roanoke, Virginia) and 5047 (from Charlotte, North Carolina).
Delta Apologises as FAA Safety Concerns Grow
Delta promised to support affected passengers with food, hotel stays, and rebooked flights. A spokesperson said: “We will work with authorities to review what happened. Safety is our top priority. We apologise to our customers for the distress caused.”
LaGuardia Airport officials confirmed the crash did not disrupt normal airport operations.
The terrifying incident adds to mounting anxiety over FAA safety amid staffing cuts. Critics say the Federal Aviation Administration’s reduced workforce risks pilot and passenger safety.
“Without our team… pilots would literally be flying blind,” a FAA employee told Politico earlier this year.
Recent aviation disasters highlight the dangers:
- 67 deaths at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in January
- A small plane crash in Alaska days later
- Two private jets colliding in Arizona this February
Federal investigators have launched a probe into the LaGuardia crash.
Originally published on UKNIP