Delta plane hits smaller jet's tail at Atlanta airport
(NewsNation) — A Delta Air Lines plane struck the tail of a smaller jet as it was taxiing for departure Tuesday morning at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
The Delta plane, an Airbus A350, was going to Tokyo, Japan, while the other plane involved, an Endeavor Air Bombardier CRJ900 - a smaller regional jet operated by Delta subsidiary Endeavor Air - was headed to Lafayette, Louisiana, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement. There was damage to the jet's tail as well as to the wing of the A350, according to Delta.
No injuries were reported, Delta said, and customers were taken back to the terminal to be put on alternate flights.
Jason Adams, a meteorologist for WFTS-TV in Tampa, Florida, who was traveling to Louisiana to cover Tropical Storm Francine, recounted the moment of impact on social platform X.
“Well that was terrifying,” Adams wrote. “Taxiing out for the flight from Atlanta to Louisiana and another plane appears to have clipped the back of our plane. Very jarring, metal scraping sounds then loud bangs. We’re fine. No fire or smoke.”
Adams posted pictures of the tail of the smaller plane knocked on its side and laying on the taxiway.
There were 221 passengers on the Airbus and 56 passengers on the regional jet.
"Delta is cooperating with the (National Transportation Safety Board) and other authorities on this incident," the company said.
The Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport said it expects "minimal impact to airport operations."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.