American Airlines 737 Collides with United 787 at Chicago O’Hare

On January 8, 2025, an American Airlines Boeing 737-800 collided with a United Airlines Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner while taxiing at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

The American Airlines Boeing 737, was scheduled to depart as flight AA1979 bound for Los Angeles (LAX) with 168 passengers and six crew members on board. Moreover, the United B787-10 was preparing to depart as flight UA219 bound for Honolulu with 293 passengers and 10 crew members aboard.

However, while the B737 was taxiing, its wingtip struck the tail cone of the United Airlines Boeing 787, which was also taxiing at a nearby taxiway. Emergency crews from the Chicago Fire Department were dispatched to runway 28R, but neither passengers nor crew on either aircraft sustained injuries.

Passengers onboard the American Airlines flight described the collision as feeling like hitting a pothole. WGN reporter Sean Lewis, who was on the United flight, said that reactions varied, with some passengers initially unaware of the impact. According to reports, the collision occurred around 9:50 a.m. local time. 

Airline Response, Operational Adjustments

American Airlines confirmed that their aircraft’s wingtip contacted the United Boeing 787 during taxiing. A spokesperson for the airline apologized for the inconvenience and assured passengers that a replacement aircraft would continue the journey to Los Angeles later that afternoon.

“During taxi-out at Chicago (ORD), American Airlines flight 1979, with service from ORD to Los Angeles (LAX), made contact with a nearby aircraft on the taxiway.  Customers deplaned normally at the gate and will re-depart on a replacement aircraft this afternoon. We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience this caused,” said an airline spokesperson.

United Airlines also addressed the incident, noting that the passengers would be accommodated on an alternate flight. 

FAA Investigation Underway

The FAA has launched a detailed investigation to determine the cause of the collision and whether procedural lapses contributed to the incident. Taxiing collisions are rare but highlight the complexities of managing air traffic at busy airports like Chicago O’Hare.

Both American Airlines and United Airlines have grounded the involved planes from service for comprehensive inspections. Deploying replacement aircraft is a costly yet necessary step to ensure passenger safety and minimize delays.

According to experts, this incident highlighted the need for heightened vigilance during taxi operations at major airports. Chicago O’Hare, one of the busiest hubs in the world, manages hundreds of aircraft movements hourly, making coordination between air traffic control and ground crew critical to preventing such collisions.

Chicago O’Hare Plane Collision: Conclusion

The Chicago O’Hare plane collision between the two taxiing aircraft reminds us of the challenges faced in managing large-scale airport operations. Thankfully, no one was injured, and swift action by both airlines ensured minimal disruption to passengers.

Authorities will continue their investigation, aiming to uncover the cause of this unusual incident and improve aviation safety standards.

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