The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation after two Delta Air Lines regional jets collided on the taxiway at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on Wednesday night. The unusual incident happened when the wing of one aircraft struck the cockpit windows of another, leaving one person hospitalized but no major injuries reported. Both planes involved were CRJ-900 regional jets operated by Endeavor Air, a Delta-owned carrier.
According to Delta, the collision was described as a “low-speed” accident, but it was still a frightening experience for passengers. One traveler, Nate Cicero, said the pilot braked sharply but their aircraft still struck the other plane. “Once you looked up and saw the other plane, it was inevitable,” he told a local news station. Flight 5047 had just arrived from Charlotte, North Carolina, when the wing of flight 5155, which was preparing for departure to Roanoke, Virginia, clipped the nose and cockpit of the parked jet.
Federal Aviation Administration officials confirmed that air traffic control had instructed flight 5155 to wait before crossing the intersection, but the two planes collided at taxiways M and A. The pilot of flight 5155 reported that a flight attendant suffered a knee injury, while the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed one person was taken to the hospital. The other passengers were bused back to the terminal and given hotel rooms and meals.
The NTSB sent a team of investigators to LaGuardia and recovered both planes’ flight recorders, which will undergo analysis in Washington. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days, though the full investigation could take more than a year. Delta apologized to customers and emphasized that safety remains its top priority. Officials confirmed that the incident did not disrupt broader airport operations.
