4 minNews
Delta Jet Clips Air Canada Plane on LAX Tarmac
A Delta Air Lines jet bound for Tokyo struck an Air Canada aircraft being towed at Los Angeles International Airport, causing no injuries but forcing one plane out of service and prompting an NTSB investigation.
A Delta Air Lines passenger jet struck an Air Canada aircraft on the tarmac at Los Angeles International Airport, the two carriers said, an incident that left no one injured but forced one plane out of service and triggered a federal investigation.
The collision occurred as Delta Flight 7, scheduled to depart for Tokyo with 275 passengers and 15 crew members aboard, was taxiing. The aircraft's left wingtip made contact with the Air Canada jet, according to a Delta spokesperson. The Air Canada plane, flight AC785, had just arrived from Toronto and was being towed to its arrival gate when the impact occurred.
Delta said in a statement that its aircraft made contact with the Air Canada plane while taxiing. The airline apologized to customers for the disruption and said nothing is more important than the safety of its customers and employees. Air Canada said the other carrier's aircraft made contact with its tail and that no injuries had been reported. The Air Canada jet will be taken out of service for inspection and repairs.
Video circulated online showed the Air Canada plane with a visible gash on one of its wings. Delta maintenance crews and airport teams were assessing the damage to the Delta aircraft, an Airbus A350-900. The airline said it was working to accommodate passengers and evaluating recovery options for the flight.
Delta said it will cooperate with the National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the incident. The NTSB has not yet released details about what caused the two aircraft to make contact.
The collision adds to a string of recent incidents involving ground operations at major airports. In March, a regional Air Canada plane collided with a Port Authority airport vehicle at LaGuardia Airport in New York City. That crash destroyed the front of the aircraft and left two pilots dead and dozens injured.
Tuesday's incident at LAX did not result in any reported injuries, and both airlines moved quickly to address the immediate consequences. Delta's flight to Tokyo was delayed as the carrier sought to rebook or accommodate the 290 people on board. The Air Canada plane, meanwhile, was removed from service so that inspectors could assess the damage to its tail and wing.
The Federal Aviation Administration, which oversees U.S. airspace and airport operations, did not immediately comment on the collision. The NTSB's investigation will focus on the circumstances that led the Delta jet's wingtip to strike the Air Canada aircraft while it was under tow.
Ground collisions involving aircraft on taxiways and aprons are relatively rare but can cause significant damage and disruption. Towing operations, in which planes are moved by specialized vehicles rather than under their own power, require coordination between airline ground crews and air traffic controllers. The investigation is expected to examine communication and clearance procedures in the moments before the contact.
For travelers at one of the nation's busiest airports, the incident underscored the complexities of managing large volumes of aircraft movements on the ground. LAX handles hundreds of flights daily, and even minor contact between aircraft can lead to inspections, delays, and cascading schedule changes.
Delta said its teams were focused on getting passengers to their destinations as quickly as possible. The airline did not provide a timeline for when the damaged aircraft would return to service. Air Canada said its plane would remain out of service until inspections and repairs are complete.
The NTSB typically takes months to complete investigations and issue final reports, though preliminary findings can be released sooner. The agency has not indicated how long its inquiry into Tuesday's collision might take.
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