Delta Regional Jets Collide at LaGuardia Airport, One Injured

Two Delta Air Lines regional jets collided while taxiing at LaGuardia Airport in New York, injuring a flight attendant. The wing of a plane preparing to fly to Roanoke struck the fuselage of a plane arriving from Charlotte. No passengers were hurt. Both aircraft, operated by Endeavor Air, sustained damage, and Delta confirmed airport operations were not affected. The airline is cooperating with authorities to review the incident.

Two Delta Air Lines regional jets were involved in a collision while taxiing at LaGuardia Airport in New York, resulting in injuries to at least one person in what the airline has described as a “low-speed collision.” The incident took place Wednesday night and caused considerable concern among passengers and airport staff, though authorities emphasized that the situation was under control and posed no further immediate risk to other flights or operations at the airport.

According to a statement from Delta Air Lines, the collision occurred when the wing of an aircraft carrying 32 passengers, which was preparing to take off for Roanoke, Virginia, struck the fuselage of another aircraft that had just arrived from Charlotte, North Carolina, carrying 61 passengers. The impact caused visible damage to both aircraft but did not result in any catastrophic failure.

A flight attendant on board one of the planes sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was promptly transported to a nearby hospital for treatment, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The airline also confirmed that there were no injuries reported among the passengers of either aircraft, and all other individuals on board were unharmed.

Air traffic control audio captured a pilot describing the collision, explaining, “Their right wing clipped our nose and the cockpit. We have damage to our windscreen and some of our screens in here.” The pilot’s report highlighted the localized but significant damage to the cockpit area, which prompted immediate safety checks and procedures.

Passengers on the landed flight described the moment of impact as sudden and alarming. One passenger, William Lusk, told ABC that the aircraft “stopped, jerked, and jumped to the right” following the collision. He recounted the tense atmosphere, saying, “Everyone went dead silent. And as everyone went dead silent, the pilot calmly came on and said, ‘Hey, we’ve been in a crash, everyone remain calm.’” His account underscores the calm and professional response of the flight crew during the unexpected event.

Delta stated that airport operations as a whole were not expected to be disrupted by the incident, and flights continued to operate as scheduled. In a formal statement, the airline emphasized its commitment to safety, saying, “Delta will work with all relevant authorities to review what occurred, as the safety of our customers and people comes before all else. We apologize to our customers for the experience.”

The Delta Connection aircraft involved in the collision are operated by Endeavor Air, one of Delta’s regional partners. Both aircraft were taken out of service for inspection and repairs, and investigations are underway to determine the precise cause of the collision, as well as any lessons that can be applied to prevent similar incidents in the future