A Delta Air Lines Airbus A350-900 struck an Air Canada aircraft on a taxiway at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Tuesday morning, prompting a federal investigation. The incident occurred at approximately 10:30 a.m. local time, with no injuries reported among passengers or crew.
Delta Air Lines Flight 7, carrying 275 passengers and 15 crew members, was taxiing for departure to Tokyo Haneda when its left wing made contact with the horizontal stabilizer of Air Canada Flight 785, which was being towed to its gate after arriving from Toronto. Both airlines confirmed the collision in statements, and the FAA is investigating the cause.
Delta described the incident in a statement, noting: “While taxiing at Los Angeles International Airport, a Delta aircraft made contact with an Air Canada aircraft. Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people, and we apologize to our customers for the experience and delay in their travels.” Air Canada similarly confirmed the contact, stating: “An aircraft operated by another airline made contact with its tail. There are no reported injuries. The Air Canada aircraft will be taken out of service for inspection and repairs.”
Airport authorities and maintenance crews from both airlines assessed the damage, with Delta’s A350-900 and Air Canada’s aircraft undergoing evaluations. Passengers on the Delta flight were accommodated with alternative travel arrangements as Delta worked to resolve the disruption. The FAA has not yet released details on the investigation’s progress or potential causes.
Witnesses, including a passenger on another flight, described the collision as avoidable. One observer, Jayson Lowe, chief executive of Ascendant Financial Inc., posted on social media: “I was looking out the window as we were taxiing to our arrival gate and a Delta A350 managed to hit a parked Air Canada plane. A parked plane. I cannot stress this enough.” The incident has raised questions about airport ground operations and pilot situational awareness during taxi maneuvers.
Both airlines emphasized their commitment to safety and customer service, with Delta offering apologies for the travel delays. The Air Canada aircraft involved, Flight 785, had recently arrived from Toronto and was being towed to its gate when the collision occurred. No further updates on the investigation or potential operational changes have been released as of this report.