In a dramatic incident at Reagan Washington International Airport, an American Airlines plane heading to Charleston, South Carolina clipped a plane bound for New York carrying several members of Congress. This occurred while both aircraft were stationary on the tarmac, awaiting takeoff at 12:45 pm Thursday. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the collision is currently under investigation.
Several lawmakers took to social media to share their harrowing experience. Congressman Nick LaLota commented:
Serving in Congress has come with some once in a lifetime experiences… like just now while stationary on the runway at DCA, another plane just bumped into our wing. Heading back to the gate, but thankfully everyone is ok! (And @RepGraceMeng is handing out grapes!)
— Congressman Nick LaLota (@RepLaLota)
April 10, 2025
Congresswoman Grace Meng also reassured the public:
While waiting on the runway to fly out of DC today, another plane clipped the wing of the plane my colleagues and I were on. Fortunately, everyone is okay & we’re heading back to New York soon. Thank you to all who reached out with your concerns!
— Grace Meng (@RepGraceMeng)
April 10, 2025
According to CBS News:
Several members of Congress were on a plane that was sitting on the tarmac waiting to leave Washington on Thursday when it was clipped by another aircraft.
American Airlines said no injuries were reported, and both aircraft returned to the gates at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The wingtip of a plane bound for Charleston International Airport in South Carolina struck another plane that was headed to JFK International Airport in New York, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, which is investigating the incident.
This isn’t the first time Reagan International has seen such incidents. In February, an American Airlines flight from Boston to DC had to abort a landing at Reagan due to another plane on the runway. Additionally, there was a tragic collision involving an American Airlines flight and a Blackhawk helicopter near the airport, resulting in the loss of 67 lives.
The preliminary FAA report indicated that staffing issues at the DCA Air Traffic Control tower contributed to the helicopter-plane collision. Specifically, one controller was responsible for handling both helicopter and airplane traffic at the time.
Webcam at the Kennedy Center caught an explosion mid-air across the Potomac.
— Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews)
January 30, 2025
