Philadelphia/ Real Estate & Development
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Published on April 02, 2024
Plane Wingtip Collision Delays Flights at Philadelphia International AirportSource: Aero Pixels from England, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Passengers at Philadelphia International Airport experienced an unexpected delay Monday morning when an American Airlines jet making its way to the runway clipped the wingtip of a parked plane. According to NBC Philadelphia, the collision occurred during pushback as the departing plane was maneuvering from the gate.

The grounded aircraft was scheduled to fly to Charlotte, and both the crew and the passengers were asked to deplane following the mishap. The original Flight 847 was delayed as a result, with American Airlines working swiftly to try and accommodate passengers on a rescheduled flight that was set to leave later in the day at 2:35 p.m. The airline's statement, obtained by FOX 29, included an apology for the inconvenience and reassured customers that efforts were being made to resume their travel promptly.

In the immediate aftermath of the incident, no injuries were reported among those on board or the ground crew. Both aircraft were temporarily decommissioned for a full inspection by maintenance teams to assess the extent of the damage and ensure their airworthiness.

For at least one passenger, the situation, while inconvenient, was met with a sense of relief. Camryn Metzner, who was in the process of boarding when the incident took place, conveyed to 6ABC her gratitude that the plane was grounded prior to takeoff, saying, "I'm happy that, you know, if I have to wait for it that's fine as long as I'm not on a broken plane." The event served as a stark reminder of the importance of ground safety procedures and the fine margins upon which timely departures often hinge.

As of now, no official cause for the incident has been released. Investigations are likely underway to prevent a similar occurrence in the future and to possibly enhance pushback protocols. Affected passengers, meanwhile, were asked to remain patient as American Airlines worked to reroute their travel plans and mitigate the disruption caused by the rare runway fender bender.