2025-04-10T19:51:24.000Z

In a startling yet ultimately harmless incident at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, two American Airlines planes made contact with each other on the tarmac. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported, bringing a sigh of relief amid the recent tragedy of a mid-air crash that claimed the lives of 67 individuals. The mishap occurred around 12:45 p.m. on the taxiway at the airport, which serves as a significant hub for air traffic in and out of the nation's capital.

The incident involved an American Airlines flight bound for John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and a Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft that was headed to Charleston, South Carolina. At the time of the accident, at least six members of Congress from New York and New Jersey were aboard the JFK-bound flight. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has stated that an investigation into the incident will be conducted to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the contact between the two aircraft.

According to a statement from American Airlines, the flight identified as American Eagle flight 5490, which is operated by PSA Airlines, came into contact with American Eagle flight 4522, operated by Republic Airways, while both were stationary on the ground. Safety is our top priority, and we apologize to our customers for their experience, the spokesperson added. Following the incident, both planes sustained damage to their winglets, which led to their removal from service for thorough inspections.

At least 143 passengers were aboard both flights at the time of the incident. Following the scare, Representative Nick LaLota (R-NY), who was on the JFK-bound flight, took to social media platform X to share his experience. Serving in Congress has come with some once-in-a-lifetime experiences like just now while stationary on the runway at DCA, another plane just bumped into our wing, LaLota wrote. Thankfully, he reported, everyone is ok! He humorously added, And @RepGraceMeng is handing out grapes! alluding to fellow Congress member Grace Meng (D-Queens), who was also on the flight.

A total of four other local Democratic representatives were on board: Adriano Espaillat, Ritchie Torres, and Gregory Meeks from New York, along with Josh Gottheimer from New Jersey. After safely deplaning, Rep. Meng spoke to reporters about the experience. Ive been flying for over ten years to Washington. This has never happened to me, she remarked, reflecting on the unusual nature of the incident. We suddenly felt some shaking. The staff and the crew were very professional and kept everything orderly, calm, and safe, she emphasized. Meng went on to note that some passengers reported seeing the other plane graze their aircraft, describing the moment as unsettling but reassuringly handled by the flight crew. She concluded by saying, Theyre fixing it right now, and theyre providing a different, new plane for us to fly back to New York.