A departing Delta Air Lines jet “clipped” an Air Canada plane that arrived from Toronto at Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement that it was investigating the incident that occurred at 10:30 a.m. local time. Delta Air Line Flight 7, an Airbus A350, was taxiing for departure when, according to the FAA, its left wingtip “clipped” the horizontal stabilizer of Air Canada AC 785, a Boeing 777. The FAA added that the Air Canada plane was being towed when it stopped short of its gate. In an audio captured and posted by LiveATC.net, the pilot of the Air Canada plane can be heard telling an air traffic controller that they “felt a shudder” and asked whether everything looked okay. Meanwhile, the Delta pilot informed an air traffic controller that they were stopping due to an “issue with the wing tip.” In separate statements, both airlines confirmed the two planes “made contact” and no injuries were reported. According to Delta, there were 275 customers and 15 crew members on board the plane at the time. “Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people, and we apologize to our customers for the experience and delay in their travels,” Delta said in a statement. Air Canada said it was taking the plane out of service for inspection and repairs, while Delta said its maintenance crews and airport teams will be assessing the aircraft.
