A runway collision at Los Angeles International Airport has put two major airline aircraft in the spotlight after a Delta Air Lines Airbus A350 clipped an Air Canada aircraft during ground operations Tuesday morning.
Delta Air Lines Flight 7 was taxiing for departure when its left wingtip struck the horizontal stabilizer of Air Canada Flight 875. The Air Canada aircraft was reportedly being towed after stopping short of its gate when the contact occurred.
The incident was witnessed by passengers on other aircraft at LAX. Jayson Lowe, who had just landed at the airport, said he was watching from his aircraft as the Delta A350 approached the Air Canada plane.
His reaction highlighted the surprising nature of the incident: the Air Canada aircraft was not moving under its own power but was being towed near the gate area.
The collision involved the Delta A350’s left wingtip and the Air Canada aircraft’s horizontal stabilizer. The extent of damage and the exact circumstances that led to the contact remain under investigation.
The FAA confirmed the incident and said the Air Canada flight was being towed when it stopped short of its gate.
Ground operations at LAX experienced some gate-hold and taxi delays following the incident, while arrival traffic also saw delays. Flight-tracking data showed dozens of flights affected during the afternoon, although it was not immediately clear how much of the disruption was directly related to the collision.
Investigators will now examine aircraft positions, ground-control communications, tug operations, taxiway clearances and crew situational awareness to determine exactly how the two aircraft came into contact.
The incident is another reminder of how challenging ground operations can be at one of the world’s busiest airports, where enormous aircraft, tugs, ground vehicles and multiple taxiing movements operate in confined spaces.
