A Southwest Airlines jet clipped wings with an American Airlines plane as both were preparing to take off from a New York airport, causing damage to the Southwest jet's wingtip.
Colorado-bound Southwest Airlines flight 449 was taxiing at LaGuardia Airport at around 11 a.m. Tuesday when it came dangerously close to American Airlines flight 1104, the Port Authority said Tuesday.
Flight 449's wingtip "came in contact with another aircraft that was awaiting a gate," Southwest said in a statement obtained by CBS New York. A piece of the aircraft's wingtip was torn off while the American Airlines flight, which originated in Texas, suffered damage to its tail wing.
No injuries were reported for passengers of both airlines.
"The 143 customers onboard Flight 449 deplaned the aircraft via air stairs and were bussed to the terminal where our Teams are working to get them to their destinations," Southwest's statement continued.
"The aircraft involved has been taken out of service for inspection and repairs."
American Airlines said it's also inspecting the aircraft and that all 143 of its passengers will be "accommodated on a different aircraft," The Dallas Morning News reported.
Disgruntled Southwest passengers tweeted pictures of a very-obviously damaged wingtip along with the hashtag LateForXMas.
My flight from New York to Denver was delayed...because an AA plane hit our @SouthwestAir plane! #lateforxmas #crazymorning
— Isabella Calloni (@IsabellaCalloni) December 23, 2014
My plane just hit another plane and broke the wing! #Southwest #LaGuardia #LateForXMas? pic.twitter.com/9pSQX1PROQ — Stormie (@StormieEtta) December 23, 2014
