Planes Collide at LaGuardia
Operations at New York’s LaGuardia Airport continued without major interruptions on Wednesday night despite a frightening runway incident that left passengers shaken and one person hospitalized. According to reports from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, two Endeavor Air jets, which operate under Delta Airlines, were involved in a low-speed collision shortly before 10 p.m.
The incident happened at approximately 9:58 p.m. local time (01:58 GMT Thursday). One aircraft was arriving at LaGuardia while another was preparing for departure when the wing of the departing jet struck the fuselage of the landing plane. Both aircraft had just completed taxiing procedures when the contact occurred.
Authorities confirmed that a flight attendant sustained a minor injury and was taken to hospital for treatment. The Port Authority clarified that the injury was not life-threatening, and no passengers were seriously harmed. In total, 93 passengers and crew members were on board the two planes.
Despite the collision, LaGuardia Airport—one of the busiest and most congested air travel hubs in the United States—did not experience delays or cancellations as a direct result of the incident. Airport operations carried on, though investigators quickly moved in to assess the damage and gather evidence.
Delta Airlines released a statement describing the occurrence as a “low-speed collision during taxi” and assured travelers that safety remained the company’s top priority. The airline emphasized that it would cooperate fully with aviation authorities to review existing safety procedures and prevent such mishaps in the future.
For many travelers, the event was unsettling, especially considering the airport’s heavy traffic and tight scheduling. Aviation experts note that runway incidents, while rare, serve as reminders of the importance of strict coordination between air traffic control and flight crews.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Port Authority are expected to conduct a joint investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident. Meanwhile, passengers on the affected flights were rebooked onto other services as engineers inspected the damaged planes.
Although no lives were lost, the scare at LaGuardia has raised fresh concerns about runway safety at major U.S. airports.
Planes Collide at LaGuardia
