A Delta Air Lines Airbus A350-900 collided with an Air Canada Boeing 777-200LR on a taxiway at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Tuesday morning. The impact caused the A350’s left winglet to tear off and become wedged in the horizontal stabilizer of the Canadian carrier’s tail section.
The incident occurred around 10:30 AM local time near Terminal 6. The Delta aircraft, operating flight DL7 to Tokyo Haneda Airport, was taxiing toward the runway. The Air Canada jet, flight AC785 from Toronto, had arrived earlier and was being towed to its gate when it stopped short of the designated position.
Winglet Lodged in Tail Section
According to air traffic control recordings, the Delta pilot reported an issue with the wingtip shortly after the contact. The Air Canada pilot described feeling a shudder and asked if the tower could see the situation clearly. Visual evidence from the scene shows the A350’s winglet embedded in the 777’s stabilizer, with a large gash visible on the Air Canada plane’s tail.
Both aircraft have been removed from service. Delta flight DL7 was delayed by more than eight hours, eventually departing LAX at 6:08 PM on Tuesday with a replacement A350. The Air Canada flight was canceled, and its return service to Toronto, AC786, was also scrapped.
FAA and NTSB Launch Investigation
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the collision in a statement, noting that the Delta flight clipped the horizontal stabilizer of the Air Canada flight while the latter was being towed. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been notified and is assisting with the inquiry.
Investigators are working to determine why the Air Canada 777 stopped short of its gate and how its position intersected with the path of the taxiing Delta jet. Neither airline nor the FAA has released details regarding the specific instructions given to the Delta crew or the tow team at the time of the incident.
No injuries were reported among the 275 passengers and 15 crew members on the Delta flight or among those on the Air Canada aircraft. Both planes are undergoing thorough inspections and repairs before returning to service.
The collision involved two of the widest aircraft commonly operated at LAX. The Delta A350-900 has a wingspan of 64.75 meters, while the Air Canada 777-200LR measures 64.8 meters. The Delta aircraft involved, registered N512DN, is nearly eight years old. The Air Canada jet, registered C-FIVK, is approaching 19 years of age and is one of only six 777-200LRs in the airline’s fleet.
Source: Simple Flying
