Lawmakers Share Updates After Being Aboard Plane That Clipped Another Aircraft
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is launching an investigation after two American Airlines regional jets collided at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, multiple reports confirmed on Thursday.
According to a statement from the FAA, “the wingtip of American Airlines Flight 5490 struck American Airlines Flight 4522 on a taxiway … around 12:45 p.m.," as cited by CNN.
Flight 5490 was scheduled to fly to Charleston, South Carolina, while Flight 4522 was heading to New York’s JFK International Airport, carrying seven members of Congress.
CNN also reported that Keith and Aviva Siegel, former Israeli hostages, were passengers on the JFK-bound flight, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
In air traffic control recordings from LiveATC.net, the pilot of Flight 5490, operated under the callsign "BlueStreak" for PSA Airlines, asked, “BlueStreak 5490, did we hit the aircraft next to us?” after the incident. The other jet was operated by Republic Airways.
“We think we might have hit the (Embraer) 175 short of (runway) 19,” the pilot continued. “We just heard a loud, like a boom, like a thunk, before we took the runway.” Reports indicated that a portion of the aircraft’s winglet—a small aerodynamic structure at the tip of the wing—broke off.
Another pilot notified the control tower, stating, “We can see a piece of a winglet on the ground behind the right wing of the Embraer.”
Representative Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), who was aboard one of the planes, described the experience as “insane” in comments to CNN: “Sitting there on runway and another plane hit … our wing.”
Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) also shared his experience on X (Twitter), writing, “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” (link). He added that they were heading back to the gate and assured, "thankfully everyone is ok!"
In a lighter moment noted by CNN, Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.) reportedly handed out grapes to fellow passengers during the wait.
On a more serious note, Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) turned the incident into a call for action, posting on X, “This close call underscores the urgent need for more FAA funding — people’s lives are at stake” (link). He warned against cuts to the agency’s staffing and operations.
A spokesperson for Reagan National Airport told CNN that, despite the incident, “there is no effect on flight operations at Reagan National Airport, as both aircraft have returned to gates and no injuries were reported.”
This event adds to a series of aviation concerns at the airport, including a deadly mid-air collision in January that killed 67 individuals and a recent military flyover that nearly clashed with a departing flight.
The January crash prompted heightened scrutiny from former and current air traffic controllers, who raised alarms about the FAA’s hiring strategies and a controversial "immunity program." Critics argue that these factors may have contributed to that tragic collision.
Former air traffic controllers have blamed the FAA’s focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives—policies initiated during the Obama administration—for creating a shortage of qualified personnel, an issue former President Donald Trump also highlighted after the January tragedy, according to Just the News.
Concerns also surround the FAA’s “immunity program,” which reportedly shields controllers from consequences after errors, possibly encouraging a culture where mistakes are more likely. Some believe these issues played a role in the January 29 disaster, when an American Airlines flight collided with a U.S. Army helicopter, causing both to crash into the Potomac River, claiming all 67 lives onboard.
The FAA, along with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), is continuing its investigation into the latest taxiway collision.
A 2023 safety report had already warned the FAA about rising risks tied to staffing shortages and last-minute flight changes made by air traffic controllers, adding to the growing concerns about the overall safety of American air travel.