During the taxiing phase, the American Airlines aircraft’s wingtip made touch with the United Airlines plane’s tail.
CHICAGO- On January 8, 2025, an AA Boeing 737 crashed with a United Airlines Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
During the morning rush hour, both planes were taxiing on different taxiways when the incident occurred.
American Plane Collides with United 787
A disruptive event occurred at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport when an American Airlines Boeing 737-800 collided with a United Airlines Boeing 787-10 while taxiing.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that American Airlines Flight 1979 collided with United Flight 219 at around 9:50 a.m. on Wednesday. The FAA recorded the occurrence on its Aviation Accidents and Incidents page, adding:
American Airlines Flight 1979 struck the tail of United Airlines Flight 219 while the aircraft were taxiing on different taxiways at Chicago O’Hare International Airport around 9:50 a.m. local time on Wednesday, Jan. 8. The American Airlines Boeing 737-800 was heading to Los Angeles and the United Boeing 787 was heading to Honolulu.
Furthermore, the FAA stated that it would investigate the incident to see how it happened and how it may have been averted.
The crash occurred while both airplanes were on separate taxiways, with the American Airlines flight heading for Los Angeles and the United Airlines jet planned for Honolulu.
WGN Reporter Sean Lewis, who witnessed the incident live on the plane, described the impact as similar to hitting a pothole, noting that passenger reactions differed in their interpretation of the crash.
The Chicago Fire Department promptly rushed emergency teams to runway 28R, however there were no injuries from the event.
Official Airline Remarks
Aviation officials later indicated that the wing tip of the American Airlines plane made contact with the tail of the United Airlines plane while taxiing.
The tragedy triggered rapid operational modifications. American Airlines took the impacted aircraft out of service for a thorough inspection and provided alternate transportation for its customers.
The airline’s spokeswoman stated that passengers exited normally at the gate and will fly to Los Angeles on a replacement aircraft later that afternoon.
A spokesperson with American Airlines said:
During taxi-out at Chicago (ORD), American Airlines flight 1979, with service from ORD to Los Angeles (LAX), made contact with a nearby aircraft on the taxiway. Customers deplaned normally at the gate and will re-depart on a replacement aircraft this afternoon. We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience this caused.”
A United Airlines spokeswoman confirmed that American Airlines Flight 1979 collided with their stopped Boeing 787 on the taxiway on Wednesday morning at O’Hare International Airport, clipping its tail cone. At the time of impact, the United aircraft was carrying 293 passengers and 10 crew members.
The representative stated that their Boeing 787, which was initially bound for Honolulu, remained motionless when the American Airlines aircraft made contact. United Airlines maintenance staff immediately began conducting extensive damage assessments on the damaged aircraft.
United Airlines likewise took precautionary precautions, pulling its planes for a full check. The airline organized alternate transportation for guests who were initially scheduled to fly to Hawaii.
Similar Incident
On Wednesday, September 11, 2024, an Envoy Air Embraer E170 collided with a stationary American Airlines Airbus A319, disrupting operations at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the incident happened after the American Airlines aircraft finished flight AA2616 from Pittsburgh and was awaiting gate assignment.
The Envoy Air plane, flight AA3724/ENY3724, made contact with the American Airlines plane at the northeast area of O’Hare Global Terminal. Both aircraft stayed grounded for about an hour after the crash. Envoy Air is a division of American Airlines Group.
On Tuesday, September 10, 2024, Delta Air Lines (DL) was involved in a similar collision at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). Delta Flight DL295, an Airbus A350 headed for Tokyo Haneda, collided with Endeavor Air Flight 5526, a Bombardier CRJ900 en route to Lafayette, Louisiana.
What happened at Chicago O’Hare involving United and American Airlines?
A United Airlines Boeing 787 and an American Airlines Boeing 737 were involved in a minor collision while taxiing at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. No injuries were reported.
Were there any injuries in the collision at Chicago O’Hare?
No, there were no injuries reported among the passengers or crew members on either aircraft.
How did the collision between the United 787 and American 737 occur?
The incident occurred while both aircraft were taxiing on the ground. An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause.
Were the flights delayed due to the collision?
Yes, both flights experienced delays, and passengers were either rebooked on later flights or accommodated accordingly.
Is this type of collision common at busy airports like Chicago O’Hare?
While such incidents are rare, they can occur at busy airports due to the high volume of air traffic. Safety protocols are in place to prevent collisions, and any incident is thoroughly investigated.
What steps are being taken after the collision?
The FAA and NTSB are investigating the collision. Both airlines are cooperating fully to determine what happened and how to prevent similar incidents in the future.
