Two Delta Regional Jets Collide at LaGuardia, NTSB Investigating
New York — Two Delta Air Lines regional jets collided on the ground at LaGuardia Airport Wednesday night, injuring a flight attendant, tearing a wing off one aircraft, and severely damaging the cockpit of another. Federal officials are now investigating the incident, which adds to mounting concerns about U.S. aviation safety.
The Collision
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), a Delta Connection plane bound for Roanoke, Virginia, with 32 people onboard, struck another Delta Connection aircraft arriving from Charlotte, North Carolina, carrying 61 passengers. The wing of the departing aircraft clipped the fuselage of the arriving plane at the intersection of two taxiways. Passenger video shows one of the planes moving at a significant pace before impact, despite Delta describing the event as a “low-speed collision.” The impact shattered cockpit windows and gouged the nose of one jet while ripping part of a wing off the other.
Injury and Immediate Response
A flight attendant suffered a knee injury during the crash and was transported to a hospital, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed. No passengers reported injuries. In audio captured by LiveATC.net, one pilot radioed:
“Their right wing clipped our nose and the cockpit. We have damage to our windscreen and… some of our screens in here.”
Passenger William Lusk described the moment of impact to ABC News:
“The plane stopped, jerked, and jumped to the right. Everyone went dead silent. Then the pilot calmly came on and said, ‘Hey, we’ve been in a crash, everyone remain calm.’”
Investigation Underway
The NTSB deployed a 10-member team to LaGuardia and has already recovered flight recorders from both jets for analysis. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said air traffic control instructed the Virginia-bound plane “to hold short and yield” before the collision, but it remains unclear whether pilot error, controller oversight, or visibility issues played a role. Former NTSB and FAA investigator Jeff Guzzetti noted that while ground controllers direct aircraft, pilots are expected to maintain situational awareness:
“You’re supposed to know where your wings are and what they might hit while taxiing. Controllers expect flight crews to see each other since they’re moving at slow speed.”
The nighttime setting may have compounded risks. Pilots often turn off nose lights while taxiing to avoid blinding others, relying on wing taxi lights and landing lights that can impair night vision.
Broader Safety Concerns
LaGuardia is equipped with an advanced surface radar system designed to detect and alert controllers to conflicts on runways and taxiways. However, it’s unclear if the system flagged the impending collision. The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of U.S. aviation safety following several high-profile crashes and near-misses, including a deadly mid-air collision involving a military helicopter and an airliner at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport earlier this year.
Delta’s Response
Delta issued a statement emphasizing passenger safety and cooperation with investigators:
“Delta will work with all relevant authorities to review what occurred, as safety of our customers and people comes before all else. We apologize to our customers for the experience.”
Both aircraft were operated by Endeavor Air, a regional subsidiary of Delta, using CRJ-900 planes that typically seat 70 to 90 passengers. The airline provided hotel accommodations and meals for affected passengers, who were rebooked on Thursday flights.
Sources
- “Cockpit recorders of Delta jets that collided on LaGuardia taxiway are being analyzed” — AP News (AP News)
- “NTSB investigating after low-speed LaGuardia collision damages Delta jets; 1 hurt” — NBC New York (NBC New York)
- “Two Delta planes collide on taxiway of New York’s LaGuardia Airport” — CBS News (CBS News)
- “NTSB Probes Delta Regional Jet Collision At New York’s LaGuardia Airport” — RTT News (RTTNews)
- “Delta Jets Collide While Taxiing at LaGuardia Airport” — Wall Street Journal (The Wall Street Journal)
- “2 Delta planes collided while taxiing on the runway at LaGuardia” — Business Insider (Business Insider)
- “2 Delta jets collide on the Taxiway at New York’s LaGuardia Airport” — People Magazine (People.com)
