Narrative:
American Airlines flight 290, a Boeing 757-200, N175AN, was stationary awaiting takeoff clearance when it was struck by Delta Air Lines flight 2503, a Boeing 737-800, N377DA, as it was taxiing at New York-John F. Kennedy International Airport (KJFK), USA. There were no injuries to the 129 passengers and crew onboard the B757, nor to the 166 passengers and crew onboard the B737. The American Airlines B757 sustained substantial damage and the Delta Air Lines B737 sustained minor damage.
According to flight crew statements, the American Airlines B757 taxied down taxiway C and turned onto taxiway FB where it stopped short of runway 22R and was awaiting takeoff clearance. The Delta B737 followed the American B757 down taxiway C and was then instructed to taxi behind the American B757 and to continue to taxiway E. The Delta captain stated he steered slightly to the right of the taxiway centerline to keep clear of the stopped American B757. He then steered back towards the centerline once he thought his left winglet had cleared the American B757s tail when he felt a bump. After stopping, emergency personnel inspected both airplanes and indicated that Delta's left winglet had contacted the American B757 right horizontal stabilizer, resulting in substantial damage to the elevator. Both aircraft taxied back to their respective gates under their own power and passengers deplaned normally.
Probable Cause: the Delta B737 captain's failure to maintain proper clearance between his airplane and the stopped American B757.
Damaged on the ground
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Tuesday 15 August 2017 |
| Time: | 18:15 |
| Type: |  Boeing 737-832 (WL) |
| Operator: | Delta Air Lines |
| Registration: | N377DA |
| MSN: | 29625/264 |
| First flight: | 1999 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 57611 |
| Engines: | 2 CFMI CFM56-7B26 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 160 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 166 |
| Aircraft damage: | Minor |
| Aircraft fate: | Repaired |
| Location: | New York-John F. Kennedy International Airport, NY (JFK) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Taxi (TXI) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | New York-John F. Kennedy International Airport, NY (JFK/KJFK), United States of America |
| Seattle/Tacoma International Airport, WA (SEA/KSEA), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | DL2503 |
American Airlines flight 290, a Boeing 757-200, N175AN, was stationary awaiting takeoff clearance when it was struck by Delta Air Lines flight 2503, a Boeing 737-800, N377DA, as it was taxiing at New York-John F. Kennedy International Airport (KJFK), USA. There were no injuries to the 129 passengers and crew onboard the B757, nor to the 166 passengers and crew onboard the B737. The American Airlines B757 sustained substantial damage and the Delta Air Lines B737 sustained minor damage.
According to flight crew statements, the American Airlines B757 taxied down taxiway C and turned onto taxiway FB where it stopped short of runway 22R and was awaiting takeoff clearance. The Delta B737 followed the American B757 down taxiway C and was then instructed to taxi behind the American B757 and to continue to taxiway E. The Delta captain stated he steered slightly to the right of the taxiway centerline to keep clear of the stopped American B757. He then steered back towards the centerline once he thought his left winglet had cleared the American B757s tail when he felt a bump. After stopping, emergency personnel inspected both airplanes and indicated that Delta's left winglet had contacted the American B757 right horizontal stabilizer, resulting in substantial damage to the elevator. Both aircraft taxied back to their respective gates under their own power and passengers deplaned normally.
Probable Cause:
Probable Cause: the Delta B737 captain's failure to maintain proper clearance between his airplane and the stopped American B757.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Ground collisionDamaged on the ground
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from New York-John F. Kennedy International Airport, NY to Seattle/Tacoma International Airport, WA as the crow flies is 3860 km (2412 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.
Distance from New York-John F. Kennedy International Airport, NY to Seattle/Tacoma International Airport, WA as the crow flies is 3860 km (2412 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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