On Thursday (April 10), two American Airlines airplanes were involved in a wing collision incident at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., with no injuries reported.
According to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), American Airlines Flight 5490 (a Bombardier CRJ 900 aircraft headed to Charleston, South Carolina) collided with American Airlines Flight 4522 (a Embraer E175 aircraft bound for New York’s JFK International Airport) around 12:45 p.m. Eastern time.
There were several members of Congress on board Flight 4522. Federal Congressman Josh Gottheimer from New Jersey posted, “While waiting for takeoff on the runway at Washington National Airport, another plane collided with our wing. Thankfully, everyone is safe.”
Federal Congressman Nick LaLota from New York also wrote, “My time serving in Congress has given me some unforgettable experiences… such as just now, when our plane was struck on the wing by another aircraft while parked at Washington National Airport (DCA). We were preparing to return to the gate, but thankfully, all are well.”
LaLota also mentioned that Federal Congressman Meng Zhao-wen from New York was also on the plane, “handing out grapes to everyone.”
Both planes have since returned to the gate with no reports of injuries.
The FAA stated in a release that they will be conducting an investigation into the incident.
According to the Washington Metropolitan Airport Authority, this accident did not impact flight operations at Reagan Airport.
The incident did not cause any disruptions to the airport’s flight operations.