On a busy Friday afternoon at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, travelers witnessed an unusual event when two United Airlines planes made unexpected contact. A United spokesperson confirmed to NBC Chicago that Flight 2652 was taxiing toward the gate when it clipped the horizontal stabilizer of another stationary aircraft. NASA describes this stabilizer as crucial for keeping an aircraft on its intended flight path.
Despite the potential for chaos, passengers aboard the moving plane deplaned as they usually would, with no reported injuries. As reported by CBS News, Flight 2652 originated from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and was carrying 113 passengers in addition to five crew members. The second aircraft was empty at the time of the incident.
One passenger, Bill Marcus, recounted the ordeal in a statement obtained by CBS News, expressing his surprise at the lack of physical sensation despite the severity of the collision. "I was shocked that I didn't feel something more," he said. Marcus also detailed the ensuing delay and his thoughts about the underlying causes of such accidents, involving possibly the FAA or local ground control protocols.
While the exact reasons for the wing-clipping are still unknown, the incident prompted no immediate comment from FAA representatives when asked. Emergency crews responded to the scene, ensuring safety and beginning an investigation into the matter. United Airlines did not offer details on the mechanics of the collision or its immediate causes.
Travel at O'Hare resumed without further issue, with passengers facing a delay of approximately 40 minutes before leaving the aircraft.
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