Two back-to-back incidents involving an American Airlines Boeing 737 and a Frontier Airlines Airbus A321 occured at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport on January 20, 2025. These incidents, occurring within hours of each other, have been reported to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for investigation.
American Airlines Incident
On January 20, 2025, at approximately 9:25 a.m. local time, an American Airlines Boeing 737-800 with registration N965NN, collided with a deicing truck outside the Air Traffic Control (ATC) area at Cleveland Hopkins Airport. The incident occurred when the Boeing 737 was preparing to depart as flight AA1315 at 6:40 a.m. bound for Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
However, the collision delayed the flight, as the aircraft sustained damage and had to be towed to the gate for further inspection. FAA records confirmed that no injuries were reported during the incident. The affected aircraft, a 10-year-old Boeing 737 powered by CFM 56-7B engines, has been temporarily grounded pending an investigation.
Frontier Airlines Incident
A separate incident took place on the same day at approximately 2:00 a.m. local time when a Frontier Airlines Airbus A321-200, registered as N720FR, was struck by a broken towbar during a gate pushback maneuver. The malfunction prompted an immediate evacuation of the aircraft, with passengers being transported back to the terminal.
The aircraft was preparing to depart as flight F94136, which was scheduled to depart Cleveland at 9:29 a.m. and arrive at Miami International Airport by 12:28 p.m. The Airbus A321 with 110 passengers and six crew members onboard, suffered delays but resumed operations following FAA clearance.
FAA Investigations Underway: American Airlines Frontier Collision
Both incidents have been reported to the FAA, which has launched separate investigations to determine the causes of these collisions. While no injuries occurred in either event, the incidents underscore the critical importance of ground safety protocols in minimizing operational disruptions and ensuring passenger safety.
These incidents mark the latest in a string of ground collisions involving major airlines. In March 2024, at Miami International Airport, an American Airlines Boeing 777 clipped the tail of a stationary Frontier Airlines Airbus A321neo during a reverse maneuver.
Similarly, in November 2024, Boston Logan International Airport witnessed a collision between an American Airlines flight arriving from London Heathrow and a parked Frontier Airlines aircraft.
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Feature Image: Smiley N. Pool | The Dallas Morning News
