LOS ANGELES, CA – A Delta Air Lines jet bound for Tokyo clipped an Air Canada plane on a taxiway at Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday morning, and no injuries were reported, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The contact happened at about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, the FAA said in a statement. Delta Air Lines Flight 7 was taxiing for departure when its left wingtip clipped the horizontal stabilizer of Air Canada Flight 785.
The FAA said the Air Canada aircraft was being towed when it stopped short of its gate. The agency said it is investigating the event.
Los Angeles World Airports said the incident took place on a taxiway, not a runway, and that flights at LAX continued to operate normally.
Flights and aircraft involved
Delta Flight 7 is an Airbus A350-900 that was preparing to fly from Los Angeles to Tokyo Haneda. Delta said 275 passengers and 15 crew members were aboard.
Air Canada Flight 785 is a Boeing 777 that had arrived from Toronto. It was being moved toward its gate by tow when the two aircraft made contact.
The FAA described the information it released as preliminary and subject to change.
No injuries reported on either aircraft
Delta said there were no reported injuries among the people on its aircraft. That includes the 275 passengers and 15 crew members on Flight 7.
Air Canada spokesperson Sean Davidson said there were no reported injuries on the Air Canada aircraft. A spokesperson for Los Angeles World Airports, which operates LAX, said the same in a statement to reporters on Tuesday.
LAX says operations continued normally
The LAX spokesperson described the event as limited to a taxiway. “We are aware of an incident involving a Delta Air Lines aircraft and an Air Canada aircraft on a taxiway at LAX, not a runway,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that no injuries had been reported and that “flights at LAX continue to operate normally.”
Delta apologizes for the delay
Delta confirmed the contact in a statement on Tuesday. “While taxiing at Los Angeles International Airport, a Delta aircraft made contact with an Air Canada aircraft,” the airline said.
The statement continued: “Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people, and we apologize to our customers for the experience and delay in their travels.”
Delta said it notified both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Air Canada jet to be inspected and repaired
Davidson said the Air Canada aircraft will be taken out of service for inspection and repairs. “There are no reported injuries,” he said in the airline’s statement.
According to initial reports, the Delta aircraft’s curved winglet came off and remained lodged in the stabilizer of the Air Canada plane. Initial reports also say the Delta aircraft was out of service after the contact.
FAA investigation is ongoing
The FAA said it is investigating the event, which it placed at about 10:30 a.m. local time on Oct. 6. The agency had not said what caused the contact or who was responsible.
The NTSB has been notified, according to Delta. The airline, Air Canada and the airport operator all said no one was hurt.
