American Airlines plane is struck by garbage truck on tarmac while passengers were waiting to take off

An American Airlines plane was struck by a garbage truck while passengers were waiting to take off in North Carolina. 

The aircraft needed to be delayed after the vehicle suddenly backed into it at Piedmont Triad International Airport on Friday morning while boarding was taking place. 

The collision caused the plane to shake and a piece of the garbage truck was left wedged in the wing of the plane which was significantly damaged. 

The passengers were forced to get off the plane and head back into the airport.

The flight, which was headed to Dallas, was delayed for several hours. 

'We had just boarded when we felt a very strong jolt for several seconds and then another one,' passenger Joni Crofoot told WFMY News 2.

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Pictures from the scene show airport staff and police surrounding the green garbage truck following the incident.

A portion of the truck, operated by a contractor, became stuck in the left wing of the plane and caused a large amount of damage. 

The incident happened while passengers were boarding the flight to Dallas and it caused the plane to shake.

Basketball coach Steve Forbes was on board and claimed it felt like an earthquake at the time.

'Here is a new one for those of us who travel by air,' he wrote on X.

'Sitting on the plane in Greensboro preparing to depart. Plane begins to violently shake. Is it an earthquake?!?! Nope, just a garbage truck running into the plane.'

They were forced to leave the plane and wait for further information about their flight which was delayed for several hours.

The passengers were spotted at the gate with some waiting around the American Airlines kiosk to find out what was going on. 

No injuries were reported on the flight which was set to host 143 customers and six crew members.

The flight to Dallas was set to take place Friday afternoon using a different aircraft. 

A spokesman for American Airlines said: 'During boarding of American Airlines flight 1716 from Greensboro, NC (GSO) to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), a vehicle made contact with the wing of the aircraft.

'All customers and crew members onboard deplaned and returned to the terminal, and the aircraft has been taken out of service for maintenance. 

'We thank our team members for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for the inconvenience.'

DailyMail.com has contacted American Airlines for further comment.