Jets clip each other at O'Hare

By Richard Wronski
Tribune staff reporter
Published June 27, 2007, 5:41 PM CDT


The right wingtip of a jetliner awaiting takeoff this afternoon at O'Hare International Airport clipped the tail of another airliner while waiting out a thunderstorm in a holding area, Federal Aviation Administration officials said.

The accident occurred at 3:50 p.m. as a United Airlines B777 was moving past an American Airlines MD-80 while both were waiting out the storm on the 9 Right holding pad, the FAA said.

No injuries were reported.

The FAA is investigating the incident and the National Transportation Safety Board has been notified.

United Flight 149 was planning to depart to San Francisco and American Flight 1817 was planning to depart to Seattle.

It was unclear if passengers were being transferred to other airplanes or when they would depart.

In the holding pad area, aircraft are responsible for maintaining their own separation from other aircraft, the FAA said.

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