Congressional Flight Involved in Ground Collision at D.C. Airport

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A plane carrying several U.S. House members was involved in a ground incident at Ronald Reagan National Airport on Thursday at approximately 12:45 p.m., officials reported.

The American Airlines plane, which included Representatives Gregory Meeks, Nick LaLota, Grace Meng, Josh Gottheimer, Adriano Espaillat, and Ritchie Torres, was clipped by another American Airlines aircraft as it was taxiing. No injuries were reported.

A representative from LaLota’s office confirmed he was among the House members aboard the flight heading to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. “The Congressman is grateful for the swift and professional response by the flight crew, who prioritized the safety and well-being of everyone on board,” said the statement.

The first aircraft, American Eagle flight 5490 operated by PSA Airlines, was headed for Charleston, South Carolina, with 76 passengers and four crew members, according to American Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Its wing was struck by the second aircraft, American Eagle flight 4522 operated by Republic Airways, which was bound for New York with 67 travelers and four crew on board.

“While waiting to take off on the runway at DCA just now, another plane struck our wing. Thankfully, everyone is safe,” Gottheimer posted on social media. In a lighter tone, LaLota remarked, “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. Heading back to the gate, but thankfully everyone is ok! And @RepGraceMeng is handing out grapes!”

Both planes have since returned to the gate and there were no immediate operational impacts at the airport, as stated by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. The FAA confirmed that it would investigate the incident.

This event comes on the heels of a recent fatal accident involving an American Airlines plane and a military helicopter near Reagan Airport in January, which resulted in 67 casualties. The concern over airport safety has been heightened, especially following recent cuts to FAA staffing. New York Representative Adriano Espaillat remarked, “Aviation mishaps are at an all-time high, and the Trump administration’s reckless decision to fire FAA control staff has put us all in danger.”

U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine also responded, calling for immediate investigations and emphasizing the importance of adequate FAA funding to ensure safe flight operations. “When planes are taking off and landing every minute of the day, FAA funding is cut, air traffic controllers are fired, and current staff is spread thinner to cover more—that is when mistakes happen,” they stated.