A United Airlines aircraft reportedly clipped the tail of another United plane at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport while taxiing towards its gate. The incident occurred on Friday, and officials stated that no injuries were reported among the 113 passengers on flight 2652, which originated from Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Passengers were able to disembark normally after a brief delay.
This collision has raised concerns about aviation safety, especially following recent incidents, including a deadly crash involving an army helicopter and an airliner at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in January. Additionally, earlier this month, two Delta Air Lines regional jets were involved in a collision at LaGuardia Airport in New York, resulting in injuries to a crew member.
In the current incident, the second United aircraft was stationary and had its horizontal stabilizer struck during the encounter. Witness accounts from passengers indicate that many were unaware of the significance of the event until informed of a delay caused by the need to document the incident. One passenger, Bill Marcus, remarked that he was surprised not to have felt a stronger impact, noting there was some shuddering as the planes were separated. The overall delay for reaching the gate was approximately 40 minutes.
Both the Federal Aviation Administration and United Airlines are likely to conduct further investigations into the situation to determine the circumstances surrounding the collision. This incident adds to ongoing discussions about safety protocols and measures in place for aviation operations.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/oct/18/united-plane-clips-tail-chicago-ohare-airport