An Air India Boeing plane was today involved in a "minor" mishap at the John
F Kennedy Airport here when its wing touched another aircraft which was being
pulled back for take off but no one was injured.
"The minor incident occurred when an Air India 102 plane, a Boeing 777 aircraft,
with over 250 on board, was taxiing to the aerobridge after landing and a
JetBlue145 plane, an Airbus A320 aircraft, was being pulled back for take off,"
an Air India spokesperson said in New Delhi.
No passengers on either of the plane were injured, but the incident has resulted
into an investigation by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) into the
circumstances and cause of the incident.
The Air India jet incurred damage to the aircraft's left wing tip.
FAA said that around 6:15 am (local time), JetBlue plane, was preparing for
departure when the Air India plane was already on the ramp.
The wingtip of the Air India plane made contact with the horizontal stabilizer
on the tail of the JetBlue plane.
Another Air India spokesperson said that the aircraft had been grounded and
today's New York-Delhi flight was cancelled.
The spokesperson in New Delhi said that about 280 passengers for the next flight
to be operated by the aircraft have been accommodated in the Air India flights
from Newark today and tomorrow.
According to JetBlue, shortly after pushing back from the gate, its plane
sustained damage to its tow bar. While retrieving a new tow bar, the aircraft
remained stationary just short of the gate.
At that time the Air India aircraft taxied into the area and made contact with
JetBlue's plane. The JetBlue aircraft sustained damage to its rudder and taxied
back to the gate.
All 150 passengers from the JetBlue aircraft bound for West Palm Beach, Florida
were removed and transferred to another plane. That plane departed around 9:20
am (local time).
Emerging story. Watch this space for updates as more details come in
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