Just days after Southwest Airlines received approval from the FAA to fly to Hawaii, two Southwest Airlines planes crashed on a runway at Newark Liberty International Airport.
A Southwest plane that was taxiing struck a parked Southwest airliner at a terminal gate. The crash centered on the plane wings. Passengers claimed to see part of a wing lying on the ground.
No injuries were reported, according to the airport, but travelers were concerned by the experience and the safety practices at the airline which has been in the news for the past few weeks.
Sara Miller wrote: "It appears that another Southwest plane hit our plane. Again, very concerned about your safety practices here."
"The SouthwestAir flight attendants keep telling us that we can't go anywhere until everyone is sitting down and buckled but everyone is sitting so we're very confused here," she added.
Later, Sara said: "We are backing up and can see part of our wing lying on the ground."
Newark Liberty International Airport released a statement that said, "There are no injuries after a taxiing Southwest plane struck wings with a parked airliner at an EWR Terminal A gate shortly after 7 am. Passengers will be rebooked."
It's still unclear what caused the collision.
Southwest Airlines told Mirror Online: "No injuries are reported after two aircrafts in a designated de-icing area at Newark Liberty International briefly made contact Saturday morning."
"Initial reports indicate an aircraft operating Southwest Flight number 6 bound for Fort Lauderdale began to taxi following de-icing when its left winglet grazed another parked aircraft being de-iced to operating Southwest Flight 3133 to Nashville."
"Both aircrafts were brought back to gates where our employees continue assisting customers whose travel plans were interrupted," the airline said.
As for the customers, Southwest noted, "The 140 customers and crew of five booked on Flight number 6 will continue their journey on a new aircraft, approximately five hours behind schedule. Flight number 3133 was cancelled and we're rebooking 102 Customers on other flights from both Newark and LaGuardia."
"There is no higher priority for us than safety and we thank our customers for their understanding as we apologise ahead of their delayed travel."
The airline added, "The aircraft are out-of-service for review."
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