Delta Jets Collide at LaGuardia in Shocking Late-Night Smash-Up
Two packed Delta jets crashed into each other on LaGuardia Airport’s taxiway just before 10pm Wednesday. The terrifying collision left one plane’s wing ripped clean off and a flight attendant injured.
The regional CRJ-900 jets, operated by Delta’s Endeavor Air, clipped wings while taxiing slowly. One aircraft ended up with a mangled wing, the other with a dented nose.
“We got absolutely smashed by another Delta flight… I don’t know who hit who, but it was super jarring. Everyone shot forward in their seats. It was chaotic and shocking,” said a CBS News producer on board.
Chaos, Injuries & Passengers Stranded
- No passengers were hurt in the crash.
- One flight attendant was injured and hospitalised, but injuries are not life-threatening.
- All 85 passengers were evacuated and taken back to Terminal C by bus.
- Emergency crews, including firefighters and police, rushed in to secure the scene.
The planes involved were Endeavor Air flights 5155 to Roanoke, Virginia, and 5047 from Charlotte, North Carolina.
Delta Apologises as FAA Safety Fears Grow
Delta vowed to support customers with food, hotel stays, and rebooked flights. A spokesperson said: “We will work with authorities to review what happened. Safety is our top priority. We apologise to our customers for the distress caused.”
LaGuardia officials confirmed the crash did not disrupt normal airport operations.
The incident piles pressure on the FAA amid growing safety concerns tied to staffing cuts. Critics warn that a shrinking FAA workforce puts pilots and passengers at risk.
“Without our team… pilots would literally be flying blind,” an FAA employee told Politico earlier this year.
Recent aviation disasters add to the alarm:
- 67 deaths at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in January
- A small plane crash in Alaska days later
- Two private jets colliding in Arizona this February
Federal investigators have launched a probe into the LaGuardia collision.
