Reps Say Plane Struck Their Aircraft’s Wing At Reagan National Airport

Two U.S. representatives said a plane clipped their aircraft’s wing Thursday at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in Washington, D.C.

The congressmen shared their thoughts on X after the incident. Republican New York Rep. Nick LaLota posted a photo from his window seat and said he and Democratic New York Rep. Grace Meng were onboard.

“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,” LaLota wrote on X, adding that they were returning to the gate and Meng was “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

“While waiting to take off on the runway at DCA just now, another plane struck our wing,” Democratic New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer wrote on X. “Thankfully, everyone is safe.”

“Just a reminder: Recent cuts to the FAA weaken our skies and public safety,” Gottheimer continued, criticizing the policies of President Donald Trump’s administration toward the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). (RELATED: ‘Accident Waiting To Happen’: Feds Ignored DC Death Trap For Years Despite Dozens Of Near Misses With Planes, Choppers)

Trump issued a presidential memorandum aimed at ending diversity, equity and inclusion hiring practices at the agency in January, according to a White House fact sheet. The president also instructed the FAA administrator to conduct a review of the safety performance and standards of agency employees. The administration laid off approximately 400 FAA staffers in February, though none of those staffers worked in air traffic control, according to USA Today.

The FAA said in a statement to the Daily Caller that the wingtip of American Airlines Flight 5490, bound for South Carolina, struck American Airlines Flight 4522, also operated by the airline, bound for New York. The incident occurred around 12:45 p.m. local time.

The FAA is set to investigative the incident.

The DCA airport confirmed to the Caller that both planes taxied to the gates and said no injuries were reported to authorities. The spokesperson added that the collision did not impact flight operations at the airport. (RELATED: ‘Listen To The Screams’: Planes Nearly Collide On Reagan Airport Runway)

Four crew members and 76 passengers were on Flight 5490 while the other flight had 67 passengers and four crew members, American Airlines said in a statement to the Caller.

The airline added that both aircraft have been removed from active service and will be inspected.

“The damage was limited to a winglet on each aircraft,” the airline noted. “Customers will board replacement aircraft to continue their trips.”

“Safety is our top priority, and we apologize to our customers for their experience,” American Airlines said.

The incident comes a few months after the mid-air collision between an American Airlines flight and a military helicopter at DCA, leaving no survivors. The two aircraft collided as a PSA Airlines plane, operating with American Airlines, approached a runway of the airport around 9:00 p.m. on Jan. 29.