Two United Airlines planes collided on the tarmac at New York’s LaGuardia Airport Friday, adding to the chaos caused by fierce winds, delays, and staffing shortages tied to the ongoing government shutdown.
According to the airline, a United plane arriving from Orlando clipped the tail of another United jet that was waiting to taxi to Houston. The collision happened as the arriving plane was turning into its gate.
Passengers described feeling a “bump” during taxi before realizing it had been another plane. Video from the scene shows emergency vehicles swarming the tarmac, though thankfully no one was injured. A total of 328 passengers and 15 crew members were safely deplaned, and maintenance crews are now inspecting the damaged plane.
The Houston-bound flight had already been delayed 90 minutes, and delays continued to pile up throughout the night. Winds at LaGuardia reached 45 mph, prompting earlier flight groundings and causing average delays of more than two hours, with some flights running five hours late.
The airport and FAA could not comment on the incident due to the government shutdown, which has left air traffic control staff unpaid and stretched thin. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has warned that the shutdown could create “mass issues throughout the airspace” if it continues into the busy holiday season.
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Poor judgement on the pilot