← Back to Squawk list
  • 46

Delta A350 Tears Off Tail Section Of Delta Connection CRJ-900 In Atlanta

Submitted
On Tuesday September 10, a Delta Airbus A350 came into contact with a Delta Connection CRJ-900 in Atlanta, completely tearing the tail section of the smaller regional jet at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. (www.gatechecked.com) More...

Roger Anderson
News junkiePromoter

Sort type: [Top] [Newest]


Stormy105
Ed Chapman 25
Delta: We’re working our tails off for you!!
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
Bernie20910
Bernie20910 15
I too have gotten a little tail in Atlanta.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
skiddavid
David Skidmore 5
Winner
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
watkinssusan
mary susan watkins 3
ed..i had to laugh a bit at your remark..dont know if you are old enough to remember the "old" continental airlines,"the proud bird with the golden tail"..in any case,their slogan was "we move our tails for you", and they had a commercial with a song .."we really move or tail for you,to make your every dream come true..on continental airlines,we really move our tail for you""..catchy and clever!( i miss that airline!)
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
rbdancer
Randy Barron 2
I loved flying on Continental. They treated passengers like valued human beings, not cargo.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
augerin
Dave Mathes 17
..'tis but a scratch....
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
jsteiner
Jeff Steiner 11
"but you haven't got any bloody rudder or elevator...!"
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
masmith57j
Matt Smith 4
What are you going to do? Drip Hydraulic Fluid on me?

(Lucky there was no electrical spark to start a fire! OR are CRJ's all-electric aircraft???
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
speedbird9
Marty Martino 1
Just a flesh wound!
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
belzybob
belzybob 23
Checking the geometry using Google Earth shows the distance from the hold line to the centreline of the E taxiway is 259.5ft. The CRJ900 is 119ft in length and half the wingspan of an A350 is 106ft. So if the CRJ had his nose right at the hold line and the A350 was bang on the taxiway centreline it looks like there would have been 35ft at most to spare. So I reckon passing through there was pretty tight.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
alexa320
alex hidveghy 6
If that is all correct, then the correct procedure would have been for the DAL aircraft to stop and tell ATC “unable” to continue and give a reason. Either wait or ATC could have asked the CRJ move up to the hold line. Then the A350 could reassess, continue or stay put until the other aircraft clears.
Simple enough. The basic concept is if in doubt, stop, do not continue on. Irrespective if the other aircraft is not pulled up, the taxying aircraft has to make a decision here. The DAL pilot miscalculated. Classic Human Factors!

Former retired pilot and airport airside operations.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
saru308
Gail Peterson 1
This is true, and there is also a photo out there that appears to show the CRJ holding behind another aircraft making that distance even smaller.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
ewrcap
ewrcap 1
It really doesn’t matter. Being on the centerline does not guarantee the pilot that he won’t hit anything. That excuse will not work at the big long FAA table.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
KennyFlys
Ken Lane 0
I've made the same argument, countless times with idiots on ZuckerFace.

That said, the A350 crew is at fault.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report

[This comment has been downvoted. Show anyway.]

RWSlater
Ron Slater 21
belzbob is actually correct. Furthermore pictures from the scene show the RJ was not all the way up to the hold short line. The nose of the RJ was about 30-40 feet from it. If you want to see it, go to the blancolirio channel on YouTube and he will SHOW you. Here is the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U95S6dQSga8 And after you watch it, then maybe you can come back and apologize to Belzbob for the snarky remarks you made to him.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
mariofer
mariofer 11
Don't sweat it Ron. Those comments are par for the course for this user. He or she has to be holding the record for downvoted comments on this site.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
TimDyck
Tim Dyck 1
Thanks for that link. Great video.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
KennyFlys
Ken Lane -3
Were you born stupid or did it sneak up on you?
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report

[This poster has been suspended.]

saru308
Gail Peterson 4
I don't like to apportion blame until the final report is released, but the 350 flight crew did hold the position of having the most visibility and maneuverability of the planes involved and should have been able to avoid contacting the CRJ.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
KennyFlys
Ken Lane 6
There is no guidance on how close an aircraft must pull to the hold short line. The A350 was moving and is obligated to remain clear of obstacles or stop in place until resolved.

§91.3(a) dictates the the A350 is responsible.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
TimDyck
Tim Dyck 3
“…Rarely are accidents attributed to one single failure, there is almost always a string of issues…”
Very true and that is why after an incident there are always several new procedures.
Sadly we often have to have an incident before we know there is a problem or in this case several problems. Thankfully in this one no one was injured.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
saso792
saso792 2
The thread on Aviation Herald stated the CRJ was waiting in line behind another airplane so that should be there reason for where it was at. The photos don't show the other airplane but there was no reason for the other airplane to stay as it was not involved with this incident. This is 100% on the 350 crew and yes, even in todays world, the 350 crew does not get to share the blame with someone els.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
polmarik
Rick Polley -9
So what you are saying is, if someone does not park exactly as they are supposed to, you then have the right to crash into them???
What if there was some reason that the ERJ had to stop short!!!
It still does not give the A350 a right to crash into the ERJ.
The USA is such a litigious place, which is always looking to blame someone else, instead of the instigator. The money grabbing so called "Legal Profession" is the route cause for a serios lack of "COMMON SENSE" in America!
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
666adt
Andrew Turnbull 10
"The right to crash into them" has to be the stupidest set of words I'll read today.

But it's early, so you may be beaten.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
augerin
Dave Mathes 3
..I dunno', it's off to a pretty good start...
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
Bernie20910
Bernie20910 1
Ah geez, you don't have to encourage them. Now they'll be thinking it's a competition.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
tnbriggs
Terry Briggs 8
If the CRJ had been in a conga line ahead of the A359 and stopped, would the A359 have had the right to plow into them from the rear? No. No real difference between that and what happened. It's up to the A350 drivers to avoid obstructions, no matter what or where. They didn't know how wide their a/c was. End of story.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
AirplaneC
C J 5
Gotta love plowing from the rear.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
slickviccom
VICTOR SPURIO 4
Did the Pilots exchange Insurance Information.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
TimDyck
Tim Dyck 1
Don’t forget to take pictures. Insurance will want those.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
speedbird9
Marty Martino 1
Does Delta sue Delta?
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
Brockton89519
Wayne Wiswell 4
It will probably buff out.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
DAL521
DAL521 8
I blame the A350 pilots for because they were the only ones who have seen the CRJ from closeup and they should've known that their bird can not pass this bird, there is something called spatial awareness, and the A350 even has outside cameras. What do you guys think?
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
belzybob
belzybob 8
I guess nobody read what I wrote below. Either the A350 pilot screwed up or the airport authority published incorrect clearance values. Generally taxying collisions are down to the driver.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
RWSlater
Ron Slater 5
It made matters worse because the RJ was not all the way up to the hold short line. The 350 pilots should have seen that and held it's position. One of those see and avoid failures
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
JamesWhitaker
James Whitaker 5
I think the cameras show only the landing gear. See Blancolirio report.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
speedbird9
Marty Martino 3
If memory serves, the A350 (like the A380) has a tail-mounted camera, but the angle isn’t wide enough to see the wing tips. Just checked YouTube, the angle is pretty wide, but doesn’t include the winglets.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
TimDyck
Tim Dyck 2
Thank you for that info.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
rbdancer
Randy Barron 3
I hate when airlines call their passengers "customers." Most customers don't put their lives in the hands of the businesses they buy from.

A passenger is precious. A customer is not, except to the bottom-line bean counters.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
polmarik
Rick Polley 6
Anyone with any COMMON SENSE will know that the A350 captain is to blame even though his first officer should have warned him. The A350 was moving forward. The ERJ did not reverse into the A350!!!
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
TimDyck
Tim Dyck 1
The tail’s only held on by a couple of bolts. Just slap a new one on and get that bird in the air! Planes don’t make money sitting on the ground.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
sparkie624
sparkie624 7
If you are not Sure or it even looks close, either wait or call and wait for a Wing Walker. If ATC Clears you and you feel that it is too close, tell them you need a Wing Walker or prefer to wait... This is 100% on the Airbus Captain... He was the one who made the wrong call and should be held accountable... Just because ATC Clears you to do it, does not mean that you should do it. I have denied ATC Clearance because I was not comfortable with the proximity of another aircraft.. It is better to take a Delay than a Cancel and damaging a plane! Were the CRJ is repairable, it will be down for a long time and I would guess that the insurance company may total this plane and just part it out! This Sets all on Delta Main Line!
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
RJBrown409
Randy Brown 14
Any bad controller order could be answered with “unable”
We as pilots are responsible for our aircraft. Controllers are advisory. Never give your authority to a controller, legally he can’t take it.
I’ve been given some really bad instructions from controllers at times. It is our responsibility to refuse bad instructions.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
druck13
druck13 5
I can appreciate the difficulty judging your wingspan. I was leaving a meet at Old Sarum in my C172 and had to taxi along between two rows of closely parked aircraft, I was proceeding extremely carefully incase one of my wing tips hit something. Then I came accross someone with their engine running, and I had to stop and ask them to turn if off before I when past, despite various onlookers offering their opinion I had enough room, I was not going to risk having the wingtip shreaded.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report

[This comment has been downvoted. Show anyway.]

briansfreeman
Brian Freeman 2
How can TWO pilots not see/understand the wingspan of their aircraft when taxiing at slow speed?? This is simply mind boggling and further reinforces the need to implement COCKPIT CAMERAS as well as a national publicly accessible database of pilot's experience/records/discipline. Time to stop hiding incompetent pilots.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
divingfe
Mike Jaureguy 2
Uhh.... One of them doing a checklist, or reviewing that month's bids; the other entering/reviewing the flight plan clearance/ talking on the radio. And maybe checking to be sure the nowsewheel is centered on the taxi centerline.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
JamesWhitaker
James Whitaker 1
What good would a "cockpit camera" do?
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
mimana
mimana 2
The CRJ-900 was visible to the crew in the A350. The pilots are aware of the dimensions of the Airbus. It was complete distractions and carelessness or was there a purpose to the action?
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
aliamus
Steve Aliamus 2
Saw a video of the incident at https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/11/us/video/delta-plane-collision-atlanta-hartsfield-jackson-airport-contd-digvid
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
ghstark
Greg S 3
Oof, what a way to end a career. No matter how badly the CRJ was positioned, the 350 captain is going to get a good portion of the blame.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
sparkie624
sparkie624 2
Not Necessarily... Certainly damaging to his carrier... There is always the ASAP Program. Even though ATC Cleared him, he could have denied the clearance, but obviously did not. He may get a downgrade to FO, or at least a Ding on his record and written up under disciplinary action. If this is his first issue, the union may save him.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
belzybob
belzybob 0
For sure, who else?
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
ghstark
Greg S 11
When the NTSB analyzes accidents they generally do an exhaustive review. They'll for sure find out why the CRJ was not pulled up to the stop line, and if there's not a good reason then I expect that will be listed as a contributing factor. They'll find out why ATC didn't notice that the CRJ was way back from the stop line. I don't know that they'll assign any blame to ATC, Atlanta is insanely busy and there's no way ATC is going to be staring at an aircraft for 5 minutes to see if it pulls all the way to the line. Who knows what the final report will show, but it's hard to see a scenario that exonerates the 350 captain.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
alexa320
alex hidveghy 1
Again? No another one?
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
watkinssusan
mary susan watkins 1
thank goodness no one was injured..wow..whether misjudgement by the pilots, or misunderstood information,the investigation will clarify what happened..
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
kerimparrot
Mike Williams 1
In any case, it looks like Delta should get rid of several employees. According to T Mobile TV ads, they cover 10,000 employees.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
SkyAware123
SkyAware123 1
That'll buff right out......
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
ewrcap
ewrcap 1
Wow. Brilliant. Never heard that one before. Not!
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
prsfigueiredo
Paulo Figueiredo 1
Incredible!!
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
Nooge
Nooge 1
Second time this week a tail got knocked off
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
YR2030
Matt Jesnsen 1
I betcha no one on the Endeavor got a $1000 a piece like Alaska gave away
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
chris13
Chris Bryant 0
From what I can see in the other pics in the article, it looks like the CRJ was too far back from the hold-short line.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
mimana
mimana 1
Yes, but that is not excuse. The crew in the A350 knows the dimensions (wingspan) and there was a chance for collision. They should have stopped the plain before and call ATC and airport.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
chris13
Chris Bryant 1
I will revise that. I didn't see pics from in front of the CRJ when I posted. He wasn't up on the line, but he was close enough.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
KoolerKT
KoolerKT -2
The world is passing away. Give yourself to the Lord Jesus, and you will not regret it.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report

[This comment has been downvoted. Show anyway.]

MikePetro
Mike Petro 3
Interesting comment. What is it specifically based upon?
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report

[This comment has been downvoted. Show anyway.]

AirplaneC
C J 5
You'd likely be the hiring manager. You're the tip of the moron iceberg.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report

Login

Forgot password?
Don't have an account? Register now (free) for customized features, flight alerts, and more!
Join FlightAware
Did you know that FlightAware flight tracking is supported by advertising?
You can help us keep FlightAware free by allowing ads from FlightAware.com. We work hard to keep our advertising relevant and unobtrusive to create a great experience. It's quick and easy to whitelist ads on FlightAware or please consider our premium accounts.
Dismiss