Two Delta Air Lines planes collide while taxiing this morning at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). The incident happened just after 10:00a local time when both aircraft were taxiing for departure.
The incident involved N503DN, a Airbus A350-900 operating as Delta Flight 253 to Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND), and N302PQ, a Bombardier CRJ-900 operating as Delta Flight 5526 to Lafayette Regional Airport (LFT) in Louisiana. The CRJ-900 was being operated by Endeavor Air on behalf of Delta Connection.
Delta Flight 5526,appears to have been holding short of Runway 8R on Taxiway H while waiting for traffic to depart, based on traffic data from FlightRadar24. The A350-900 attempted to pass behind the CRJ-900 on Taxiway E when the right wingtip struck the tail of the CRJ-900.
The two planes hit with such force that the tail of the CRJ-900 was sliced completely off. While the pictures look dramatic, nobody on either aircraft was hurt. Meteorologist Jason Adams, from WTFS TV Tampa was onboard the Lafayette bound flight and shared some photos of the incident.
Well that was terrifying. 😳😳😳 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 @Delta instructions. pic.twitter.com/PMU9evPvq6
— Jason Adams (@JasonAdamsWFTS) September 10, 2024
He was heading down to South Louisiana to help cover Tropical Storm Francine but, needless to say, the action started long before his arrival at the coast.
CCTV video of the incident clearly shows the A350 taxiing behind the CRJ-900 and striking the tail of the regional jet.
CCTV captures the ground collision earlier today between a Delta Air Lines A350-941 and Delta Connection CRJ-900LR at Atlanta International Airport. https://t.co/NAtkeotC5H pic.twitter.com/E4yH35U4UY
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) September 10, 2024
In a statement, Delta acknowledged the incident and noted that passengers on both flights have been re-accommodated on alternant flights. There were 221 customers on DL295 and 56 customers on DL5526.
The A350 was taken to Delta’s Tech Ops facility for repairs and will likely re-enter service soon. The CRJ-900 on the other hand suffered extreme damage and I wouldn’t be surprised if the aircraft is written off and scrapped.
Summary
A Delta Air Lines Airbus A350-900 bound for Tokyo collided with a Delta Connection CRJ-900 bound for Lafayette, Louisiana at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport at 10:07a local time. Fortunately, nobody onboard or on the ground was injured in the incident and the planes have been removed from the taxiway.
I wonder what the NTSB will report who is at fault here.
The Endeavor CR9 either didn’t properly clear the taxiway and stopped short or, the A359 shouldn’t have been trying to taxi behind. Either way it shouldn’t have happened.