Delta jets collide on LaGuardia taxiway; wing torn off, FAA probe launched [VIDEO]

Two Delta Connection jets collided at night on LaGuardia’s taxiway. One wing severed, one injury reported. FAA/NTSB investigating amid shutdown debate.

Last night (October 1), a rare and unsettling event unfolded at New York’s LaGuardia Airport when two Delta Connection regional jets collided while taxiing at night. The accident, which happened around 9:56 p.m. ET, involved Delta flight DL5047 arriving from Charlotte and flight DL5155 departing for Roanoke.

Though the incident occurred at low speed, the impact was severe enough to shear off the right wing of DL5155, leaving the aircraft crippled on the taxiway. DL5047’s nose cone and forward fuselage sustained extensive damage.

More than 90 passengers and crew were on board both jets. Miraculously, only one injury was reported—a flight attendant with minor injuries. No fire, explosion, or fuel leak followed, averting a far more catastrophic outcome.

What the Video Showed Passengers

A now-viral video, posted by CBS News producer Kris Van Cleave, gave the public its first look at the chaotic aftermath. Shot from inside DL5047, the clip captured flashing emergency lights, soaked pavement from a rainy evening, and the unmistakable outline of a Delta jet missing a wing.

Emergency responders in reflective vests swarmed the scene. Fire engines, ambulances, and Port Authority police units boxed in both aircraft as firefighters unspooled hoses and probed the wing stump for hydraulic leaks. Passengers were visible being escorted off the aircraft onto waiting shuttle buses, some clutching bags, others clearly shaken.

The video’s lack of fire or smoke reassured viewers that the situation was contained, but the imagery of a detached wing in one of the world’s busiest airports sparked questions about how such a collision could happen on a routine taxiway.

The Flights Involved

The two aircraft were Bombardier CRJ-900 regional jets, each seating about 76–78 passengers. Both were operated by Endeavor Air, Delta’s wholly owned subsidiary.

• DL5047: Arrived from Charlotte with 57 passengers and 4 crew. Damage included fuselage dents and possible cockpit windshield stress.
• DL5155: Scheduled for Roanoke with 28 passengers and 4 crew. Suffered the catastrophic right-wing loss after striking DL5047’s nose.

Combined, 93 people were caught up in the incident. All were safely evacuated, and Delta provided hotel accommodations and rebooked connections for October 2 departures.

Delta issued a statement: “Our teams at New York-LaGuardia are focused on supporting our customers and crew following a low-speed ground collision. We deeply regret the disruption and are cooperating fully with investigators.”

How It Happened: Taxiway Collision Mechanics

LaGuardia is infamous among pilots for its congested layout. Taxiways run close to each other, and the airport lacks the space of modern mega-hubs. At night, under fog and rain, even seasoned crews face challenges navigating narrow clearances.

According to ATC logs, DL5047 had just landed and was taxiing toward its gate when DL5155, already cleared for departure, crossed paths on an intersecting taxiway. The right wing of DL5155 sliced directly into DL5047’s nose cone.

Eyewitnesses reported a “jolt like a car crash” followed by the pilot’s calm announcement: “It seems as though there’s an aircraft that collided with us.”

Investigators will review whether ground crews or controllers misjudged spacing, whether wingtip clearance systems failed, or if poor visibility created blind spots.

FAA and NTSB Investigations Underway

Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have opened inquiries. Investigators will examine:

• Air traffic control instructions to each aircraft.
• Cockpit voice and flight data recorders from both jets.
• Ground radar logs of aircraft positions.
• Visibility conditions—fog and rain reduced sightlines that night.
• Human factors, including crew fatigue and workload.

It may take weeks for the NTSB to release a preliminary report. Final reports, which include safety recommendations, often take more than a year.

The Port Authority stressed that broader airport operations were not impacted. Taxiways near the incident remained closed overnight for debris removal and inspections.

Shutdown Speculation and Political Firestorm

Within hours of the collision, social media users began linking the mishap to the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, which entered its second day on October 1.

During shutdowns, thousands of FAA staff—including technical specialists, training supervisors, and non-critical safety inspectors—are furloughed. While air traffic controllers remain on duty, they are unpaid, leading to morale issues and sickouts.

So far, the FAA says there is no evidence the shutdown played a role, but many online tied the dots: fewer ground personnel, stressed controllers, and a crowded airport created “an accident waiting to happen.”

Lawmakers seized the moment. Some Democrats accused Republicans of “playing games with aviation safety,” while conservatives argued that Delta and LaGuardia management were responsible, not Congress. The NTSB’s eventual report will determine if shutdown staffing contributed.

Passengers React: Relief, Fear, and Frustration

For passengers, the experience was frightening. One passenger aboard DL5047 told reporters: “We’d just landed and were rolling to the gate when suddenly there was a crunching noise and everything shook. The crew handled it calmly, but people were scared.”

Another passenger posted a selfie video from the bus back to the terminal, saying: “Only in New York—you survive landing just to get hit on the ground.” The clip has since gone viral on TikTok.

Delta has promised refunds, hotel rooms, and meal vouchers for all customers. Still, many expressed frustration at disrupted travel plans. For a few, the event reignited fear of flying altogether.

Aviation Experts Weigh In

Experts note that while mid-air collisions are virtually impossible with modern radar, ground collisions remain a nagging vulnerability in crowded airports.

• John Cox, a retired airline captain and safety consultant, told CBS: “Taxiway accidents typically involve miscommunication or human error. The good news is they rarely result in fatalities—but the optics are damaging.”
• Mary Schiavo, former Inspector General at the Department of Transportation, added: “This should be a wake-up call for infrastructure upgrades. Wing clearance at LaGuardia is razor-thin. Ground radar and AI-assisted taxi systems could prevent this.”

The cost to Delta will be substantial: repairing or replacing a CRJ-900 wing can run into millions, and both aircraft are grounded indefinitely.

Social Media Reactions

The video spread rapidly across X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok. Hashtags like #LGACrash and #DeltaCollision trended overnight.

• Supportive voices: “Thank God nobody died. This could’ve been so much worse.”
• Critical takes: “If planes can’t even taxi without crashing, what does that say about our air system?”
• Political jabs: “Shutdown day 2 and planes are already colliding.”
• Memes: “Delta: where wings are optional” circulated widely.

While many posts focused on safety, others pointed out the irony of a passenger jet losing its wing at walking speed. Aviation forums, meanwhile, dissected taxiway layouts and called for “mandatory wing-walkers” when maneuvering large aircraft in tight spaces.

Looking Ahead: What Travelers Should Expect

For travelers, the immediate impact is minimal—LaGuardia remains open, and Delta has rebooked affected customers. But the incident adds pressure on both the FAA and Congress to strengthen ground safety measures.

Future solutions may include:

• AI-assisted taxi navigation to prevent wingtip strikes.
• More surface movement radar systems at congested airports.
• Mandatory escorts for regional jets in tight areas.

Until then, the LaGuardia collision serves as both a cautionary tale and a political football. The good news: despite the dramatic images, all passengers walked away.

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