2 aircraft clip wings at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport; FAA investigating
No injuries reported after GoJet, SkyWest planes make contact waiting for gate space
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Two regional aircraft clipped wings on the ground at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on Tuesday, resulting in no injuries and prompting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to investigate, officials said.
The wingtips of GoJet Flight 4423 and SkyWest Flight 5433 made contact around 7 p.m. while the two jets were waiting for gate space at the airport, the FAA said in a statement based on preliminary information provided to Fox News Digital.
Both aircraft "taxied safely to the terminals, where passengers exited normally," the statement said.
The FAA said the agency is investigating the incident and provided no further details.
FAA ESTABLISHES COMMITTEE TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES FOR PILOTS, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS
Two regional aircraft clipped wings while waiting for gate space at Chicago O'Hare International Airport on Tuesday, the FAA said. (Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images, File / Getty Images)
SkyWest told Fox News Digital that its flight, operating as United Express, arrived safely at O’Hare before its wing made contact with another aircraft. No injuries were reported, and its passengers deplaned normally at the gate. Its maintenance teams are inspecting the aircraft, the airline said.
SkyWest Airlines said no injuries were reported in the incident. (Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images / Getty Images)
GoJet told Fox News Digital in a statement that its flight landed at Chicago O’Hare International Airport and was parked waiting for a gate when another aircraft operator clipped the wing of the aircraft.
"The crew immediately reported it to air traffic control, safely taxied to the gate and all passengers deplaned normally," the statement said. "There were no reported injuries and our maintenance team is inspecting the aircraft for damage."
The SkyWest flight had arrived from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, while the GoJet flight had arrived from Richmond, Virginia, WBBM-TV reported.
PILOTS SAY THEY NEED TO PRIORITIZE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AS PRESSURES MOUNT
Close calls involving aircraft have been on the rise, with a panel of independent experts concluding last month that the FAA needs better staffing, equipment and technology to help prevent these incidents.
Former FAA acting administrator Dan Elwell tells ‘The Claman Countdown’ that more approved hours in a flight simulator could help streamline pilot training to help with shortages.
A shortage of air traffic controllers has forced workers into frequent overtime, leading to fatigue. Some workers have reported employees showing up to work under the influence of alcohol or drugs or sleeping on the job, The New York Times reported last week.
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The report found that some air traffic controllers have even developed physical or mental health problems and avoid seeking help over concerns it might jeopardize their jobs.