United flight strikes another plane’s tail while taxiing at LaGuardia Airport

A United Airlines flight collided with another United plane while taxiing at LaGuardia Airport in New York City on Friday evening, according to the air carrier.

United Airlines said that Flight No. 580, a Boeing 737 arriving from O’Hare International Airport in Chicago with 166 passengers and eight crew members on board, was heading towards its arrival gate when it collided with the parked United plane.

United added that the collision caused damage to the tail of United Flight 434, another Boeing 737 that was preparing to depart for George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston with 162 passengers and seven crew members on board.

“Friday evening, United Flight 580 was turning to its arrival gate when it made contact with the tail of United Flight 434, which was parked on the taxiway,” the airline told FOX Business on Sunday.

Major airports are grounded due to air traffic controller staff shortages amid government shutdown

United said that the two planes returned to the gate, and all passengers disembarked normally, adding that the air carrier worked to deliver the passengers to their destination “as quickly as possible.” No injuries were reported.

The government shutdown delayed employee flights from 5% to 53% with air traffic controllers called out

A United Airlines passenger jet taxis onto the runway at LaGuardia Airport in the Queens borough of New York City on September 7, 2016. (Robert Alexander/Getty Images)

The minor collision comes amid broader disruptions at major airports, where air traffic control staff shortages and an ongoing government shutdown have caused nationwide delays.

The FAA noted that while air traffic controllers manage runways and taxiways, gate area movements remain the responsibility of airlines.

A close-up of the United Airlines logo on March 11, 2023. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images/Getty Images)

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“FAA Air Traffic Control is not responsible for aircraft movements in the gate area,” the agency said in a statement on Friday.

The agency will also conduct an investigation into the incident.