A source yesterday sent me details of a Delta Air Lines Boeing 757 and an Aeromexico Boeing 737 colliding in Mexico City while the two planes were progressing towards takeoff on Monday afternoon.
Aviation watchdog JonNYC, though, did the legwork to track down details of the specific flights involved.
I assume this is moment of impact: pic.twitter.com/SRNngAGfJk
— 🇺🇦 JonNYC 🇺🇦 (@xJonNYC) April 17, 2023
As is this: pic.twitter.com/MZedSxhLtD
— 🇺🇦 JonNYC 🇺🇦 (@xJonNYC) April 17, 2023
The Delta flight to New York JFK was hit between two taxiways as the Aeromexico plane’s wing tip impacted Delta’s horizontal stabilizer.
JUST IN: Delta flight to JFK gets hit by Aeromexico plane while on the ground in Mexico City, as @xJonNYC got word of.
Photo is from @America_Vuela. https://t.co/cpxWnao18F pic.twitter.com/FY5cANGfRI
— Andy Slater (@AndySlater) April 17, 2023
#BREAKING: @Delta flight #DL624 hit by another plane while awaiting takeoff at Mexico City #CDMX. Flight was bound for @JFKairport. No injuries except a badly damaged 757. #abc7ny pic.twitter.com/Aoo4GZjuXi
— Josh Einiger (@JoshEiniger7) April 17, 2023
The two aircraft returned to their gates, with both aircraft taken out of service. The Delta flight was cancelled, while Aeromexico used an alternate aircraft to operate to Chihuahua, Mexico.
other sites include the aircraft numbers and DL operated a rescue flight Monday morning.
Delta can and will send a bill to Aeromexico just as if it had been any other airline.
All I could think when I saw this, sadly, was, “it finally happened.” It’s been almost happening in the news for months now. This time it did. Very sad, though thankfully not worse.
It’s blatantly obvious that the AM plane taxiing behind DL’s plane didn’t wait to have full wingtip clearance on the taxiway as the split scimitar winglet collided with the DL’s vertical stabilizer. Must have been taxiing in a hurry in a stupid attempt to make the schedule.
This doesn’t surprise me. Have you seen how people drive in Mexico!!