An aircraft’s wingtip hit another plane at Washington, D.C.’s Reagan National Airport on Thursday afternoon.
Two regional American Airlines jets bumped wings while on the taxiway around 12:45 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration. One flight was en route to Charleston, South Carolina, while the other was heading to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
At least three members of Congress appear to have been on board one of the flights, according to social media posts. No injuries have been reported.
Representative Nick LaLota posted about the incident on X: “Serving in Congress has come with some once in a lifetime experiences… like just now while stationary on the runway at DCA, another plane just bumped into our wing.”
“Heading back to the gate, but thankfully everyone is ok,” he added. “(And [Representative Grace Meng] is handing out grapes!)”
Serving in Congress has come with some once in a lifetime experiences… like just now while stationary on the runway at DCA, another plane just bumped into our wing. Heading back to the gate, but thankfully everyone is ok! (And @RepGraceMeng is handing out grapes!) pic.twitter.com/bOo1JNXZDh
— Congressman Nick LaLota (@RepLaLota) April 10, 2025
Meng, who represents Queens, New York, replied to LaLota’s post confirming her and her colleagues are okay.
“I’m grateful no one was hurt today, but this incident underscores this urgent need restore all FAA jobs that keep our runways safe,” she wrote.
Representative Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey was also on board. He told ABC News that the “plane shook violently” and “it was pretty clear that we got hit.”
“The pilot came on and told us we weren’t going anywhere except back to the gate,” he added.
American Airlines said in a statement the “the damage was limited to a winglet on each aircraft” and each plane has been “taken out of service to be inspected.”
Before January’s deadly crash, lawmakers warned of overcrowding at the airport after a major aviation bill was passed by Congress and signed by then-President Joe Biden adding five new daily long-haul flights.
The bill was designed to bolster safety measures, strengthen protections for passengers and airline employees and fund upgrades to US airports and air travel infrastructure.
“The proposal flies in the face of known safety concerns and known congestion concerns,” Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat, said of the bill last year.
Further, the airport is among the busiest in the country and pilots routinely rate it as among the nation’s most challenging to handle, according to NBC Washington. Senator Tim Kaine argued last year the airport is “pressed to the gills,” stating it’s handling 25 million passengers a year when it’s only designed for 15 million, according to CNN.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.