This week, two separate ground collision incidents involving American Airlines (AA) and Frontier Airlines (F9) aircraft occurred at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) on consecutive days. Both incidents were reported to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and are now under investigation.
The accidents, which involved an American Airlines Boeing 737-800 and a Frontier Airlines Airbus A321, resulted in delays and flight disruptions but no injuries were reported.
Incident 1: American Airlines Flight AA1315 Hit by Deicing Truck
📅 Date & Time: January 20, 2025, at 9:25 AM local time
🛫 Scheduled Route: Cleveland (CLE) ➝ Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
✈️ Aircraft Involved: Boeing 737-800 (N965NN, 10 years old)
⚙️ Cause: Struck by deicing truck
What Happened?
- AA1315 was preparing for departure to Chicago when a deicing truck accidentally struck the aircraft.
- The FAA confirmed the incident occurred outside Air Traffic Control (ATC) jurisdiction.
- The aircraft was towed back to the gate for inspection and repairs.
- FlightRadar24 data shows the flight was delayed due to deicing operations before the collision, and later canceled due to aircraft damage.
Incident 2: Frontier Airlines Flight F94136 Struck by Towbar Malfunction
📅 Date & Time: January 20, 2025, at 2:00 AM local time
🛫 Scheduled Route: Cleveland (CLE) ➝ Miami International Airport (MIA)
✈️ Aircraft Involved: Airbus A321-200 (N720FR, 7.3 years old)
⚙️ Cause: Towbar on a ground tug broke, striking the aircraft
What Happened?
- During pushback from the gate, a towbar on an airport tug broke, striking the Frontier A321.
- The incident prompted an emergency evacuation of 110 passengers and six crew members.
- Passengers were bused back to the terminal, and the flight was canceled.
- The FAA is investigating the equipment failure that led to the collision.
FAA Investigation and Safety Concerns
The FAA will conduct an investigation into both incidents to determine whether:
✅ Ground handling procedures were followed correctly
✅ Equipment failures or human errors contributed to the accidents
✅ Additional safety measures are needed to prevent similar incidents
These ground collisions at Cleveland follow previous incidents involving American Airlines and Frontier Airlines at Miami International Airport (MIA) and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) in 2024.
Similar Aircraft Collisions in 2024
March 7, 2024 – Miami International Airport (MIA)
- An American Airlines Boeing 777 collided with a Frontier Airbus A321neo during a reverse maneuver.
- Video footage showed an airport worker rushing to stop the American Airlines aircraft.
- The Frontier plane was parked for boarding, but only crew members were onboard.
- No injuries were reported, but both aircraft required inspections.
November 25, 2024 – Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
- An American Airlines flight arriving from London Heathrow clipped the wing of a parked Frontier aircraft.
- The Frontier flight was scheduled to depart for Dallas with 200 passengers.
- Massport (Boston Logan’s management) categorized the incident as minor, occurring at low speed.
- Passengers were delayed, and the American Airlines aircraft was removed for maintenance.
Growing Concerns Over Ground Handling Safety
These repeated ground collisions raise serious concerns about airline ground operations and airport safety protocols. While no injuries were reported, these incidents cause:
❌ Flight delays and cancellations
❌ Potential aircraft damage and costly repairs
❌ Passenger inconvenience and safety concerns
With FAA investigations ongoing, it remains to be seen whether new safety measures or stricter ground handling protocols will be introduced to prevent similar accidents in the future.
Would you feel confident flying through Cleveland Hopkins International Airport after these incidents? ✈️ Let us know in the comments!
