Two American Airlines regional jets have clipped wings during a ground taxi incident at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
On 10 April 2025, at approximately 12:45 p.m. EDT, the wingtip of one aircraft taxiing for departure collided with a stationary American flight.
The two aircraft, identified as flight AA5490 and flight AA4522, made contact on a taxiway. The brief contact resulted in minor damage to the wingtips of both aircraft. No injuries were reported among the passengers or crew members aboard either plane. Several members of Congress were aboard the stationary flight.
Ground Incident at Reagan National (DCA)
Flight AA5490, a Bombardier CRJ 900 operated by PSA Airlines, was taxiing for Charleston, South Carolina, with 76 passengers and four crew members.
During taxiing, its wingtip struck the wingtip of flight AA4522, an Embraer E175 operated by Republic Airways, destined for JFK International Airport in New York.
The latter flight carried 67 passengers and four crew members and was stationary at the time of the collision.
Notable passengers on flight AA4522 included U.S. Representatives Nick LaLota, Grace Meng, and Josh Gottheimer, who later confirmed the incident via social media. Passenger accounts described a brief jolt, with Representative Meng quipping that they needed more snacks.
The damage was confined to the winglets of both aircraft. Following the collision, both aircraft returned to the terminal and were withdrawn from service for maintenance evaluations.
American Airlines arranged substitute aircraft to ensure passengers reached their destinations and issued a statement prioritizing safety while apologizing for the inconvenience.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initiated an investigation to ascertain the circumstances leading to the event. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority reported no broader impact on airport operations.
This incident follows a fatal midair collision at DCA on January 29, 2025, involving an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter, which resulted in 67 fatalities.
Although unrelated, the earlier tragedy heightened scrutiny of the airport’s safety measures.
Lawmakers aboard American flight AA4522, including Gottheimer, leveraged the April 10 event to advocate for increased FAA funding and staffing improvements.
The FAA’s findings will clarify the cause, as American Airlines works to address operational and public confidence concerns at this key transportation hub.
