What was meant to be a normal night of travel at New York’s LaGuardia Airport turned tense on Friday after two United Airlines planes unexpectedly collided on the tarmac.
Passengers waiting to head home or off on weekend trips were left shocked as what began as a routine taxi turned into a moment of confusion and concern.
A Close Call Between Two United Flights
According to United Airlines, the incident happened when a Chicago-bound plane, Flight 580, accidentally clipped the tail of another aircraft that was waiting to depart for Houston.
Both planes were preparing for takeoff when the bump occurred, forcing them to return to the gate instead of proceeding with their scheduled flights.
Passengers from both flights — 328 travelers in total, along with 15 crew members — were safely escorted back into the terminal.
Thankfully, no one was injured, but many on board said they immediately knew something unusual had happened.
Passengers Describe the Sudden Bump
“We all felt a bump during taxi to the runway but didn’t know it was another plane until the captain said it was,” one passenger told The New York Post, recalling the unsettling moment.
Photos from the scene captured flashing emergency lights surrounding the aircraft as airport vehicles rushed to the area to assess the situation.
Maintenance crews quickly began inspecting the damaged plane to ensure there were no safety risks or technical malfunctions before any future flights could operate.
Windy Weather Adds to the Turbulence
Friday’s mishap didn’t come out of nowhere. New York City airports have been dealing with intense winds all evening, with gusts reaching up to 45 miles per hour.
The conditions were so severe that LaGuardia temporarily grounded flights earlier in the night, creating a backlog and increasing the pressure on ground operations.
To make matters worse, airports across the U.S. have been battling an uptick in flight delays and cancellations due to staffing shortages triggered by the ongoing government shutdown — which has now stretched to a full month.
A System Under Strain
The shutdown has forced about 13,000 air traffic controllers to continue working without pay.
Many have reportedly begun calling in sick, leading to more disruptions nationwide.
On Thursday alone, FlightAware data showed over 5,700 delays within, into, or out of the U.S.
The Houston-bound plane involved in the collision had already been delayed for 90 minutes before the incident, likely adding to the sense of frustration and fatigue among passengers and crew.
Airline Leaders Push for a Resolution
As tensions grow across the aviation industry, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby joined executives from Delta, Southwest, and American Airlines at the White House on Thursday to push for an end to the government shutdown.
“It’s putting stress on the economy,” Kirby told reporters after the meeting.
“It’s impacting bookings. It is time to pass a clean continuing resolution.”
His comments reflect a wider concern within the airline industry that prolonged political gridlock is not only straining workers but also compromising travel safety and reliability.
What Happens Next for United Airlines
While no one was hurt in the LaGuardia collision, both aircraft are being thoroughly examined before returning to service.
United Airlines said it is cooperating fully with airport authorities and maintenance teams to determine the extent of the damage.
For now, passengers are being rebooked on alternate flights, but the incident serves as another reminder of the growing pressure facing America’s aviation system — from extreme weather and staff shortages to political gridlock.