A United Airlines plane's tail was clipped by an American Airlines jet while taxiing at O'Hare International Airport on Wednesday morning. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the incident, involving American Airlines Flight 1979 and United Airlines Flight 219, occurred around 9:50 a.m. as both planes were maneuvering on separate taxiways, according to a statement published on Aviation Source News.
The American Airlines Boeing 737-800 was bound for Los Angeles, while the United Boeing 787 was set to depart for Honolulu. The ground collision happened when the American Airlines jet's wingtip reportedly made contact with the United plane's tail. WGN Reporter Sean Lewis was on board the United flight and described the impact as it “felt like we hit a pothole. Some people felt it, some didn’t," he told WGN News. "Nonetheless, a few minutes later, the pilot got on the PA and said that we had a tail strike."
No injuries were reported following the incident, and Chicago Fire Department crews responded to the tarmac near runway 28R. Passengers on the United flight, which included 293 passengers and 10 crew members, were transferred to a replacement aircraft for their scheduled flight to Honolulu. American Airlines arranged for a replacement plane for the passengers of the outbound flight to Los Angeles after passengers deplaned normally at the gate, as per a statement from an American Airlines spokesperson. "We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience this caused."
Both American and United Airlines have begun inspecting their respective aircraft for damages following the ground event collision. The FAA will now lead the investigation to determine the cause and potential implications of the incident at Chicago O'Hare. The authorities have not yet released further details about the investigation's progression, but both carriers have expressed their commitment to passenger safety and operational integrity in their public statements. They swiftly took action to minimize disruption and to re-accommodate the affected travelers promptly.
