Lawmakers say airplanes bumped each other on runway at National Airport

Multiple lawmakers said Thursday their airplane was bumped by another plane while waiting on the runway at Reagan Washington National Airport.

Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) posted online that the wing of his airplane was struck by a second plane while they waited on the runway and that “everyone is ok.”

“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 in a post on social platform X, referring to National Airport as DCA.

LaLota said Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.) was also on board the flight and “is handing out grapes!”

Meng responded to LaLota’s post on X, writing, “Glad my colleagues and I are okay! We are safely waiting on the tarmac, but we may need more snacks.”

“I’m grateful no one was hurt today, but this incident underscores this urgent need to restore all FAA jobs that keep our runways safe,” she added, referencing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) posted online that he had a similar experience.

“While waiting to take off on the runway at DCA just now, another plane struck our wing. Thankfully, everyone is safe. Just a reminder: Recent cuts to the FAA weaken our skies and public safety,” he wrote on X.

The FAA confirmed in a statement that at approximately 12:45 p.m. the “wingtip” of American Airlines Flight 5490 — which was headed to Charleston, S.C. — struck another plane, American Airlines Flight 4522, which was headed to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. The incident occurred on a taxiway at National Airport, the FAA said.

The FAA said it would investigate the incident.

American Airlines said there were no reports of injuries and that damage to the aircraft “was limited to a winglet on each aircraft.”

“Both aircraft taxied to the terminal and have been taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance teams,” the airline’s statement said, noting all customers “will board replacement aircraft to continue their trips.”

There were 76 customers and four crew members aboard the flight headed to Charleston, and 67 customers and four crew members on the flight headed to JFK.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) confirmed the incident but directed all inquiries to the airline.

“There is no effect on flight operations at Reagan National Airport, as both aircraft have returned to gates and no injuries were reported,” the MWAA spokesperson said in an email.

The incident is the latest to take place at the Washington-area airport. In late January, a National Airport midair crash resulted in the deaths of all 67 people aboard both aircraft involved.

This story was updated at 3:11 p.m.