Following a collision between two of its aircraft at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Tuesday morning, Delta Airlines has issued an amended statement.
“At approximately 10:07 a.m., the wing of an Airbus A350 taxiing out as DL295 from Atlanta to Tokyo-Haneda made contact with the tail of an Endeavor Air CRJ-900, DL5526 to Lafayette, Louisiana, on an adjacent taxiway, resulting in damage to the tail of the regional jet and the wing of the A350,” the airline said.
“There have been no reported injuries at this time, and customers are being transported back to the terminal where they will be accommodated on alternate flights. There were 221 customers on DL295 and 56 customers on DL5526. At this time, no additional operational adjustments are expected.”
Delta further stated that it is assisting other law enforcement agencies, including the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), in their investigation of the event.
One of the planes was getting ready to take off for Lafayette, Louisiana when the collision occurred. Witnesses stated that the regional jet’s rear end was struck by the A350, shocking the occupants of both aircraft.
Passengers on one of the planes, meteorologist Jason Adams, called the crash “very jarring.” He wrote on social media: “Metal scraping sounds then loud bangs. We’re fine. No fire or smoke.”
Adams reported that the occupants had been evacuated onto the tarmac and were waiting for additional orders. Delta is attempting to rebook the impacted passengers and has apologized for the inconvenience. Investigations are ongoing to determine what caused the crash.
The busiest airport in the world, Hartsfield-Jackson, has come under fire recently following a terrible event in which a jet tire exploded earlier this summer, killing two Delta employees while they were performing normal maintenance. An important center for Delta’s operations is the airport.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli
