Two Delta Airlines planes collide on runway at Georgia airport
Two Delta Airlines planes have collided on a runway at the country's busiest airport.
The incident took place at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia just after 10am on Tuesday.
The crash occurred after Tokyo-bound flight DL295 clipped the back of flight DL5526 to Louisiana as it was taxiing for takeoff.
The regional jet, an Endeavor Air CRJ-900, was left with a severed tail while the Airbus 350 sustained damage to its wing.
Dramatic photos from witnesses appear to show the back end of the Louisiana-bound flight bent at a 90 degree angle.
Two Delta Airlines planes have collided on a runway at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
The incident took place on Tuesday morning and saw one of the planes 'clip' the other while taxiing for take off
So far, no injuries have been reported among the combined 277 passengers on board the jets.
Tampa meteorologist for WTFS TV Jason Adams said he was aboard the regional plane at the moment of impact.
'Well that was terrifying,' he posted on X. 'Taxiing out for the flight from Atlanta to Louisiana and another plane appears to have clipped the back of our plane.
'Very jarring, metal scraping sounds then loud bangs. We’re fine. No fire or smoke. Awaiting instructions.'
Delta said that the Airbus rammed into the Lafayette-bound plane as it was sat on an adjacent runway, 'resulting in damage to the tail of the regional jet and the wing of the A350'.
'Following an incident at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport earlier today, Delta worked with each customer from flights DL295 to Tokyo-Haneda and DL5526 to Lafayette, Louisiana, to provide accommodation on alternate aircraft scheduled to depart Tuesday afternoon. We apologize to our customers for the experience,' a statement read.
'No customer or crew member injuries have been reported, and operations are continuing as normal at the Atlanta airport.
'Meanwhile Delta is cooperating with the NTSB and other authorities while Delta TechOps teams prepare to safely move both aircraft to maintenance hangars.'
No injuries among the collective 277 passengers have been reported so far
A passenger aboard one plane which was bound for Lafayette, Louisiana described the situation as 'terrifying' and took this photo shortly after being evacuated
Atlanta Airport confirmed there will be 'minimal impact' to its operations.
'At approximately 10:07 this morning two aircraft made contact at the intersection of taxiways E and H on the north airfield,' a statement read.
'At this time, no injuries are reported. Passengers from one of the aircraft are being bussed from the incident to the concourses.
'The second aircraft taxied under its own power to a concourse where passengers will deplane at their gate. There is minimal impact to airport operations.'
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the US' busiest airport and is Delta's hub.
The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed it is investigating the incident.
DailyMail.com has contacted the FAA for comment.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the US' busiest airport and is Delta's hub
Delta said it is co-operating with the National Transportation Safety Board on the incident
It comes after a Delta Airlines flight to Rome was forced to turn around over the Atlantic Ocean and return to Boston following a lightning strike last month.
That followed a concerning safety incident back in March when a Boeing-made Delta Airlines flight out of Aruba and bound for Atlanta was forced to turn back and make an emergency landing after an engine blow out on take-off.
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