NEW YORK – A low-speed collision between two Delta Air Lines regional jets on a taxiway at LaGuardia Airport on Wednesday night resulted in minor injuries to a flight attendant and significant damage to both aircraft. The incident occurred around 9:58 p.m. Eastern Time, involving Endeavor Air Flight 5047, which had just arrived from Charlotte, North Carolina, and Endeavor Air Flight 5155, which was preparing for departure to Roanoke, Virginia.
The collision, described by Delta as a “low-speed” event, saw the right wing of the departing Flight 5155 make contact with the fuselage and nose of the arriving Flight 5047. Pilots on Flight 5047 reported damage to the windscreen and cockpit displays, with one passenger describing the impact as “pretty violent” and sounding like “something was being sheared off.” Images of the aftermath show a damaged wing on one aircraft and a shattered cockpit window and deeply gouged nose cone on the other.
A flight attendant on Flight 5047 sustained a minor knee injury and received immediate treatment from EMTs at the scene before being transported to a local hospital as a precaution. No passengers on either flight reported any injuries.
Passengers were safely deplaned from both aircraft and transported by bus to Terminal C, where Delta provided assistance, including meals and hotel accommodations for those whose travel was disrupted.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have launched investigations into the incident. Both agencies are analyzing flight recorders and working with Delta and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to determine the exact cause of the collision. While preliminary information from the FAA suggests the departing aircraft was instructed to “hold short and yield to the other aircraft,” the investigation will examine all factors contributing to the event.
Despite the collision, airport operations at LaGuardia were not significantly impacted, according to the Port Authority. However, the incident has drawn renewed attention to ground safety protocols at busy airports, especially in light of recent aviation incidents nationwide. Delta has issued an apology to its customers, emphasizing its commitment to safety and full cooperation with the ongoing investigations.
