It was a tense Thursday morning at Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport when two American Airlines planes clipped wings on the runway. Passengers felt the sudden jolt as one aircraft struck the wing of the other while both waited for takeoff clearance. Despite the shock, no one was hurt, and all passengers stayed safe.
One flight headed to New York’s JFK International Airport, while the other traveled to Charleston International Airport in South Carolina. The Federal Aviation Administration quickly confirmed the incident and announced an investigation was underway to determine exactly what went wrong.
FAA Under Scrutiny Amid Safety Concerns
According to FOX 5 DC, several members of Congress were onboard at least one of the aircraft. Representative Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey was on one of the flights and shared his experience on social media.
“While waiting to take off on the runway at DCA just now, another plane struck our wing. Thankfully, everyone is safe,” Gottheimer tweeted. He also took a moment to raise concerns about recent staffing cuts at the FAA, saying they “weaken our skies and public safety.”
Rep. Grace Meng of New York, also onboard, echoed that sentiment. “I’m grateful no one was hurt today, but this incident underscores the urgent need to restore all FAA jobs that keep our runways safe,” she wrote.
The FAA has been facing mounting criticism over safety at Reagan National, particularly after the devastating midair collision on January 29. In that tragedy, an American Airlines flight from Wichita collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter while approaching the airport, killing all 67 people onboard both aircraft. That crash remains the deadliest American air disaster in over twenty years.
In response, the FAA recently began implementing safety measures, including boosting oversight, reviewing arrival procedures, and conducting routine wellness checks on personnel. However, Thursday’s incident raises questions about whether these steps go far enough. A spokesperson for American Airlines confirmed the wingtip damage and said both aircraft returned to the gate for inspection. Flights were delayed but resumed later in the day.
While passengers and crew walked away unscathed this time, the close call adds urgency to ongoing discussions around aviation safety and staffing at one of the nation’s busiest airports.
