SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Two international United Airlines flights were canceled Tuesday morning after their aircraft made contact on the tarmac at San Francisco International Airport, according to officials.
The incident occurred near a gate while both planes were still on the ground, the East Bay Times reported. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the planes were preparing for departure when the right wingtip of a plane bound for Sydney, Australia, struck the tail section of another United aircraft scheduled to fly to Hong Kong. The Sydney-bound aircraft was carrying 202 passengers and 16 crew members. The Hong Kong flight had 306 passengers and an equal number of crew.
The cause of the incident remains under investigation by the FAA. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether weather, ground crew miscommunication, or pilot error contributed to the collision.
“Safety is our top priority, and we are fully cooperating with the FAA’s investigation,” a United Airlines spokesperson said in a statement. The airline added that affected passengers were being rebooked on alternative flights.
Operations at San Francisco International were not significantly disrupted by the incident, though both aircraft were taken out of service for inspection and repair.
This is not the first time an incident of this nature has occurred at a major airport, though such ground collisions are rare. The FAA’s investigation will examine flight data, ground control logs, and maintenance records to determine what led to the mishap.
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