A near-miss incident involving two airplanes at Boston’s Logan International Airport created a lot of commotion on the tarmac Tuesday morning when the two clipped wings of each other while taxiing in. Miraculously, no passenger or crew was injured from the collision, but it did cause some delays and an investigation by authorities from the airport and the airlines themselves.
The incident occurred around 9:15 AM when both the airplanes were taxiing along the taxiways while they were heading towards take off. According to witnesses and preliminary reports, the two airplanes were headed in opposite directions along one taxiway and their wing tips unacceptably came into contact with each other. The Airbus A320 was an American Airlines airplane that was taxiing towards take-off. The Boeing 737 of Frontier Airlines, however, was taking off for another gate.
The collision created a significant noise that was audible from nearby terminals. Passengers on both flights felt a moment of confusion and concern, but both airlines quickly came forward to let the passengers know that no one was hurt, and the issue was under control.
The impact was minor, but it was serious enough to cause damage to both aircraft wings. The American Airlines aircraft suffered considerable wingtip damage, while the Frontier Airlines aircraft experienced a dent in its own wing. Emergency response crews were dispatched to respond to the incident, and both aircraft were declared safe to stay on the tarmac.
Logan Airport management closed the affected taxiways for a short period as the planes were inspected. American Airlines and Frontier Airlines said their respective crews followed all safety rules after the collision. However, no injuries were recorded as a result of the incident.
The Federal Aviation Authority has been informed, and a detailed investigation will be conducted to know the cause and whether some aviation regulation was breached. Preliminary reports show that both aircraft had obtained clearance from the ground control on taxiing, leading to speculation that there may have been poor communication or an infrequent case of close tarmac maneuvering space.
Following the collision, both planes were constrained as damage to them was assessed and repairs done; passengers on the American Airlines flight were finally booked into the other aircraft, while Frontier Airlines claimed that the incident did not impact its schedule in the long run.
The ripples of the disruption caused other flights to experience slight delays at Logan International when traffic needed to be rerouted and taxiways inspected for safety. The officials assured passengers that they were working hard to get back to normal as fast as possible.
Both American Airlines and Frontier Airlines released statements, apologizing for the inconvenience caused by the wing collision, but stating that this was not a priority to safety. “We are in contact with the FAA and local authorities to fully investigate the situation,” American Airlines said in a statement. “We are working to minimize the impact on our passengers and ensure their safety.”
While the recent accident involving two planes at Boston Logan Airport served as a grim reminder of the complexity of airport operations, it also put under the spotlight the need for continuous safety procedures and fast communication between the ground crew and the flying crew. So, both airlines and airport authorities will make further updates on this incident as the investigation continues.
The passengers affected by the delay are advised to check their respective airlines for updates in regards to flight status and are encouraged not to lose their patience while Logan International works on clearing the incident and getting back on track.
