A ground collision between two Boeing aircraft at Chicago's bustling O'Hare International Airport has prompted a Federal Aviation Administration investigation. The mishap, which occurred without any reported injuries, involved the wingtip of an All Nippon Airways plane coming into contact with a stationary Delta Air Lines jet on Sunday, around 6:30 p.m. local time, as noted by FAA spokesperson Tony Molinaro.
The incident involved a Boeing 777, operated by All Nippon Airways bound for Tokyo, and a Boeing 717 belonging to Delta Air Lines, recently arrived from Detroit, according to details shared by the Chicago Tribune. Respectively, passengers disembarked the planes normally following the incident, and neither of the aircraft reported injuries, marking a fortunate escape in what could have been an adverse event. Both airlines remained tight-lipped, with representatives providing no immediate insight into the cause of the encounter, leaving the FAA to unravel whether a manufacturing defect played a role in the event as the 737 Max 9 model faces increased examination after a spate of issues.
Boeing, the American aerospace titan, has yet to issue a comment concerning the ground collision, instead, the inquiry is being directed toward the carriers and the federal regulator in charge of aviation safety. This comes on the heels of heightened oversight following various mechanical hiccups, including the highly-publicized grounding of the 737 Max 9 model after a mechanical malfunction forced an aircraft to make an emergency landing last week.
Delta spokesperson Emma Johnson indicated in a phone conversation that the airline's technicians are currently evaluating the condition of their Boeing 717, as detailed in a statement obtained by ABC News, further stating, "Customers deplaned normally at the gate and the aircraft is being evaluated by Delta's maintenance technicians." Meanwhile, All Nippon Airways’ customer service representative Raymond Bongalon admitted to the Chicago Tribune that details were scarce concerning the incident, while also mentioning Flight 11's journey to Tokyo was canceled pending "aircraft inspection."
The Chicago Department of Aviation, known for overseeing one of the busiest airports in the world, has not issued a statement, leaving a sliver of airspace shrouded in mystery as travelers and aviation enthusiasts alike await the FAA's findings that might shed light on this rare tarmac tangle between two of Boeing's birds.
