Several U.S. representatives recounted an unusual event at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) on Thursday, describing a situation where one aircraft made contact with another while both were stationary on the tarmac.
Representative Nick LaLota of New York was among those aboard when he reported that “another plane just bumped into our wing” while awaiting takeoff. He emphasized that there were no injuries.
“Serving in Congress has come with some once-in-a-lifetime experiences… like just now while stationary on the runway at DCA,” LaLota wrote, adding a touch of wryness to the situation.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the incident, stating that the wingtip of American Airlines Flight 5490 had struck American Airlines Flight 4522 on a taxiway around midday.
The two aircraft involved were headed to different destinations: one, a Bombardier CRJ 900, was en route to Charleston International Airport in South Carolina; the other, an Embraer E175, was bound for JFK International Airport in New York.
- American Airlines Flight 5490 (wingtip involved)
- American Airlines Flight 4522 (struck by wingtip)
- Bombardier CRJ 900 – Destination: Charleston, SC
- Embraer E175 – Destination: JFK International Airport, NY
The Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority corroborated the account, assuring that operations at Reagan National Airport were unaffected. Both planes had safely returned to their gates and, crucially, no one was hurt.
Representative Grace Meng of New York, also a passenger on the affected plane, shared an update on social media, noting she was distributing snacks to her fellow travelers as they waited for further instructions.
“Glad my colleagues and I are okay! We are safely waiting on the tarmac, but we may need more snacks,” Meng posted. She added a call to action: “I’m grateful no one was hurt today, but this incident underscores the urgent need [to] restore all FAA jobs that keep our runways safe.”
Representative Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey confirmed he was also present during the event and echoed the sentiment of relief regarding passenger safety.
“While waiting to take off on the runway at DCA just now, another plane struck our wing. Thankfully, everyone is safe,” Gottheimer wrote. He further commented, “Just a reminder: Recent cuts to the FAA weaken our skies and public safety.”
The FAA has announced that it will be conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
