USAupdated 1h ago2 min read
FAA Investigates Delta Plane Clipping Air Canada Aircraft At LAX
Delta's left wingtip clipped Air Canada's horizontal stabilizer on taxiway at LAX. FAA is investigating the incident, with authorities reporting no injuries.
FAA probes LAX contact
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said it is investigating after a Delta Air Lines plane "clipped" an Air Canada aircraft at Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday.
“There were no reported injuries to any passengers or crew.”
The FAA said the incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. local time as the Delta plane was taxiing for departure and the Air Canada plane was being towed toward the gate.
Air Canada said there were no reported injuries, and Air Canada spokesperson Sean Davidson said Air Canada Flight 785 had arrived from Toronto before "an aircraft operated by another airline made contact with its tail."
Delta identified its aircraft as an Airbus A350-900 carrying 275 passengers and 15 crew members, and Delta said it apologized to customers for the experience and delay in their travel.
The FAA said the Delta plane's left wingtip clipped the Air Canada aircraft's horizontal stabilizer, and the Air Canada aircraft was taken out of service for inspection and repairs.
What each side said
Delta said, "While taxiing at Los Angeles International Airport, a Delta aircraft made contact with an Air Canada aircraft," and the airline added, "Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people, and we apologize to our customers for the experience and delay in their travels." Air Canada said its Flight AC785 had arrived from Toronto and was being towed to the gate when the left wing of an Airbus A350-900 operated by Delta Airlines made contact with its tail at approximately 10:30 a.m. local time. A Delta spokesperson told ABC7 Los Angeles that a piece of the Delta plane's wing appeared to be lodged inside the stabilizer of the Air Canada aircraft, and the winglet was ripped off during the collision and remained stuck in the stabilizer.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the FAA said Delta Flight 7 was taxiing for departure at around 10:30 a.m. when its left wing clipped the horizontal stabilizer of Air Canada Flight 785. The National Transportation Safety Board was notified, and the FAA said the information is preliminary and subject to change.
Next steps and disruption
Delta and Air Canada took both aircraft out of service after the contact, and the Air Canada aircraft was to be removed from service for inspection and repairs. The FAA said the incident occurred on a taxiway at LAX, not a runway, and Los Angeles World Airports emphasized that flights at LAX continued to operate normally. People reported that Delta maintenance crews and airport teams were assessing the aircraft, and the airline agreed to cooperate with the National Transportation Safety Board on any investigation.
“The agency has not announced a cause or assigned responsibility.”
The FAA said it is investigating, and the agency has not announced a cause or attributed responsibility. For passengers, the disruption came as the Delta flight was bound for Tokyo's Haneda Airport, and the Air Canada flight was being towed after landing safely from Toronto.