U.S. Airways Planes Clip Wings at Reagan Airport

[Matt Molnar]

U.S. Airways Planes Clip Wings at Reagan Airport

By Annie Gowen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, February 17, 2008; 2:53 PM

Two U.S. Airways planes were evacuated this morning at Reagan National Airport after the planes' wings clipped, a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said.

Courtney Prebich, a MWAA spokeswoman, said that the two planes -- a U.S. Airways Airbus A319 headed to LaGuardia Airport and a smaller U.S. Airways Express regional jet on the way to Rochester, N.Y. -- were in an area at the north side of the airport waiting for their turn at the runway when the collision occurred.

The smaller jet -- operated by regional carrier Republic Airways -- was carrying 21 passengers in taxi mode toward the runway when it clipped the wing of the larger aircraft and became lodged there, according to Andrea Rader, a spokeswoman for U.S. Airways. [Full article...]

[nwafan20]

I am glad that no one is hurt.

What is really sad is that out of an A319 and CRJ there were only 63 PAX, and 21 of those were on the CRJ meaning that the A319 had only 42 PAX on it, US A319's can hold 126, meaning a LF of only 33%.. Wow

[hiss srq]

I am glad that no one is hurt.

What is really sad is that out of an A319 and CRJ there were only 63 PAX, and 21 of those were on the CRJ meaning that the A319 had only 42 PAX on it, US A319's can hold 126, meaning a LF of only 33%.. Wow

Not alot to you but that is the standard load factor of a shuttle flight that time of day to NY. Each one of those peopel paied 600 dollars one way or 1200 rt though so no loss.

[Matt Molnar]

First is $600, coach is as low as $123 with advanced purchase.

[cancidas]

I am glad that no one is hurt.

What is really sad is that out of an A319 and CRJ there were only 63 PAX, and 21 of those were on the CRJ meaning that the A319 had only 42 PAX on it, US A319's can hold 126, meaning a LF of only 33%.. Wow

it wasn't a CRJ but an EMB-170.

[LGA777]

The reason the loads where so light is because DCA-ROC and especially DCA-LGA are buisness markets and it was a Sunday morning on a 3 day holiday weekend. Had it been a normal weekday then probably double to triple the number of passengers although these flights departed DCA after the early weekday morning peak travel time for biz travellers, especially those on day trips.

Regards

LGA777