Two American Airlines planes collided on the tarmac at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Thursday afternoon, carrying at least six members of Congress from New York and New Jersey, as relayed by the New York Post. The incident, which occurred at 12:45 p.m., involved no injuries but damaged both aircraft, prompting an investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration.
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The collision happened as an American Airlines flight bound for New York's JFK Airport, carrying lawmakers, was struck by an American Eagle flight headed to Charleston, South Carolina. Both planes sustained damage to their winglets and were removed from service for inspection, American Airlines confirmed.
Lawmakers React to Incident
Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY) described the moment on X, posting, "While stationary on the runway at DCA, another plane just bumped into our wing. Heading back to the gate, but thankfully everyone is ok!" He noted Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) was sharing grapes with fellow passengers, lightening the mood.
Meng, joined by Reps. Adriano Espaillat, Ritchie Torres, Gregory Meeks of New York, and Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, was on the JFK-bound flight at the start of a two-week congressional recess. Meng told The Post she hoped to attend a memorial for former Rep. Nita Lowey later Thursday, despite the delay.
"I've flown to Washington for over ten years. This has never happened," Meng said via Zoom after deplaning at the airport. "We felt shaking, but the crew kept everything calm and professional."
Gottheimer called the incident evidence of weakened aviation safety, posting on X, "Recent cuts to the FAA weaken our skies. While waiting to take off, another plane struck our wing. Everyone is safe."
Airport Scrutiny
The FAA vowed to investigate the taxiway collision, which involved 143 passengers across both planes. American Airlines issued an apology, stating, "Safety is our top priority. We regret the inconvenience to our customers."
The incident follows a deadly Jan. 29 mid-air crash at Reagan National that killed 67 people, the worst U.S. air disaster since 2001. The airport, known for its crowded airspace, has faced multiple near-misses recently. On March 29, a Delta flight nearly collided with military jets during takeoff. The next day, a United Airlines plane struck a kite while landing.
Meng used the collision to urge FAA reforms, posting on X, "This underscores the urgent need to restore FAA jobs that keep our runways safe." LaLota's team said he plans to advocate for stronger aviation oversight, drawing on this experience.
