A couple of commuter planes operated by Delta Air Lines were involved in a collision while moving at LaGuardia airport in New York, resulting in one casualty in what the airline described as a “low-speed collision”.
Specifics of the Incident
According to a statement from Delta, the wing of an plane carrying 32 people and preparing to take off for Roanoke, Virginia, made contact with the fuselage of another plane that had landed from Charlotte, North Carolina, with 61 people aboard.
A flight attendant received minor wounds and was transported to a medical center, as reported by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. No reports of traveler harm, the airline said.
Eyewitness Reports
“Our aircraft’s nose was struck by their wing, causing damage to the windscreen and several cockpit displays,” a pilot reported, according to ATC recordings.
Passenger William Lusk described the moment, stating, “After landing, the aircraft ‘halted abruptly, shuddered, and veered right’. An eerie silence fell over the cabin, broken only by the pilot’s calm announcement: ‘We’ve been involved in a collision; please stay calm.’”
Airport Operations and Response
The rest of the airport’s operations were not expected to be impacted, according to Delta.
“Delta will work with all relevant authorities to review what occurred as safety of our customers and people comes before all else,” the statement noted. “We apologize to our customers for the experience.”
The Delta Connection aircraft involved in the collision are operated by Endeavor Air.
