Two Delta Air Lines planes collided this morning at the Atlanta airport, causing damage to both aircraft. No injuries were reported, but the incident prompted quick action from airline and airport officials.
The collision occurred when a Delta Airbus A350, headed for Tokyo, struck the tail of a smaller Bombardier CRJ-900 regional jet on an adjacent taxiway. The smaller jet, operated by Delta’s subsidiary Endeavor Air, was bound for Lafayette, Louisiana. The force of the impact knocked the tail off the smaller plane onto the taxiway. The wing of the larger aircraft also sustained damage from the collision.
Air traffic controllers immediately responded to the situation. “Endeavor 5526, hold your position,” an air traffic controller said. The pilot of the regional jet confirmed that there were no injuries but requested a tow from the scene.
Delta officials stated that passengers from both planes were quickly brought back to their terminals. The Airbus A350 carried 221 passengers while 56 passengers were aboard the smaller aircraft.
Delta apologized to passengers for the inconvenience and announced its cooperation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), both of which have launched investigations into the incident.
