Staff Reports
Two widebody jets bumped into each other on the ground at LAX this morning. A Delta Air Lines Airbus A350, taxiing for departure, clipped the horizontal stabilizer of an Air Canada Boeing 777 that had been towed and stopped short of its gate. No one was hurt, but the Federal Aviation Administration says it has opened an investigation — and travelers can expect headaches while the airlines sort out the damage.
What happened at LAX — the facts
The basic picture is simple and embarrassing for a major airport: Delta Flight 7, an A350, was taxiing when its left wingtip hit the tail of an Air Canada 777. The 777 had arrived from Toronto and was being towed when it stopped near its gate. Both carriers issued short statements: no injuries, the planes will be inspected, and passengers will be rebooked or delayed as needed. Photos circulating on social feeds show visible damage to the A350 wingtip and the 777’s horizontal stabilizer, so this wasn’t a polite bump — repairs are likely.
Who is investigating and what they’ll examine
The FAA has opened a probe into the ground collision. Whether the National Transportation Safety Board will lead or join the investigation hasn’t been announced. Investigators will look at ground operations, towing procedures, taxi routes, and whether anyone in a tower, on a tug, or in a cockpit made a critical mistake. Expect them to examine human factors, ramp coordination, and whether airport layout or tight gate spacing played a role.
Why this matters: safety, delays and real costs
A wingtip-to-tail strike on widebodies is not trivia. Inspections and parts replacement can take days and ripples through schedules. That means canceled flights, late crews, and annoyed travelers — plus the airline bills for repairs and insurance headaches. More important is safety. Ramp collisions are usually avoidable and point to lousy coordination or bad procedures. LAX is a busy hub. When things are crowded and people rush, small mistakes can become headline-making problems.
Bottom line: fix the process, not just the metal
No one was hurt this time — which is the only good part. But the incident should force a hard look at how we run major airports, how ground crews and tugs are managed, and whether the FAA is treating ramp safety with the urgency it deserves. Passengers will forgive a delay. They won’t forgive a pattern of preventable accidents. Regulators and airlines need to show quick, serious fixes, not just polite statements and “we’re looking into it.” Otherwise expect more photos on social media and more people asking why we tolerate avoidable risk at our busiest airports.
