WASHINGTON- Two American Airlines (AA) aircraft were involved in a taxiway incident at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) on Thursday (April 10, 2025) when their wings made contact while preparing for departure.
The incident occurred around 12:45 p.m. and involved American Eagle flight 5490 to Charleston (CHS) and American Eagle flight 4522 bound for New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). At least seven members of Congress were among the passengers on one of the affected aircraft.
Photo: By Cory W. Watts from Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America – brAAnd new E175 for AA, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=43511870American Airlines Planes Clips Wings
The ground incident involved a Bombardier CRJ 900 operated by PSA Airlines (American Eagle flight 5490) and an Embraer E175 operated by Republic Airways (American Eagle flight 4522).
According to official statements, the aircraft made contact while on a taxiway, resulting in wing damage to at least one of the planes. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the 147 passengers and 8 crew members across both aircraft.
American Airlines quickly addressed the situation, stating: “Safety is our top priority, and we apologize to our customers for their experience.” The airline confirmed that both flights returned to the gate following the incident, where passengers were accommodated on alternative flights.
Photo: CC-BY-SA 4.0 Matti BlumeCongressional Passengers Respond to Incident
Among the passengers on one of the affected flights were several U.S. Representatives, including Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Nick LaLota (R-NY), Grace Meng (D-NY), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), and Ritchie Torres (D-NY).
Representative Meeks confirmed that seven members of Congress were aboard the aircraft along with dozens of other travelers. The lawmakers took to social media to share their experiences and reassure constituents of their safety.
Representative Gottheimer emphasized potential safety concerns, stating: “While waiting to take off on the runway at DCA just now, another plane struck our wing. Thankfully, everyone is safe. Just a reminder: Recent cuts to the FAA weaken our skies and public safety.”
Meanwhile, Representative LaLota took a lighter approach, noting that serving in Congress had provided “some once-in-a-lifetime experiences” and mentioning that Representative Meng was “handing out grapes” to fellow passengers after the incident.
This incident comes less than three months after a tragic collision between an American Eagle jet and a military Black Hawk helicopter above DCA on January 29, which resulted in 67 fatalities. The proximity of these two events has raised questions about operational safety at one of the nation’s busiest airports.
Aviation experts note that ground incidents while concerning, are categorized differently from in-air collisions. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the taxiway contact to determine contributing factors and prevent similar occurrences.
Photo: Mark WietingSimilar Incident
An American Airlines (AA) Boeing 737-800 aircraft collided with a United Airlines (UA) Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) on January 8, 2025, during morning rush hour operations.
The incident occurred at approximately 9:50 a.m. local time when AA Flight 1979, bound for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), struck the tail of UA Flight 219, which was scheduled for Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the American Airlines Boeing 737-800 hit the tail of the United Airlines Boeing 787-10 while the aircraft were taxiing on different taxiways. This incident triggered an immediate investigation by aviation authorities to determine the cause and preventive measures.
WGN Reporter Sean Lewis, who was aboard one of the aircraft during the collision, described the impact as similar to hitting a pothole. Passenger experiences varied, with some barely noticing the collision while others reported a more significant jolt.
The Chicago Fire Department promptly dispatched emergency crews to runway 28R following the incident. Aviation officials later clarified that the wing tip of the American Airlines aircraft made contact with the United Airlines plane’s tail during the taxiing process. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among passengers or crew members on either aircraft.
Airline Response and Passenger Accommodations
Both airlines implemented swift contingency measures following the collision. American Airlines removed the affected Boeing 737-800 from service for a comprehensive inspection and arranged alternative transportation for its 179 passengers.
An American Airlines spokesperson stated: “During taxi-out at Chicago (ORD), American Airlines flight 1979, with service from ORD to Los Angeles (LAX), made contact with a nearby aircraft on the taxiway. Customers deplaned normally at the gate and will re-depart on a replacement aircraft this afternoon. We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience this caused.”
United Airlines confirmed that their Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner, which carried 293 passengers and 10 crew members, remained stationary on the taxiway when the American Airlines aircraft made contact with its tail cone. United’s maintenance teams immediately initiated comprehensive damage assessments of the affected aircraft and arranged alternative transportation for passengers originally bound for Hawaii.
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