Rep. Lalota, other members of Congress on board plane that clipped wings with another aircraft on ground in DC

The representatives' flight was headed to JFK. The other plane was headed to Charleston, South Carolina.

News 12 Staff

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Apr 10, 2025, 6:47 PM

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Updated 15 days ago

Rep. Nick LaLota posted on X that he was aboard one of the planes that clipped wings with another aircraft at Reagan National Airport earlier today.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey and Rep. Grace Meng of New York were also on board. Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York and Rep. Adriano Espaillat of New York were also on the plane, according to a statement from LaLota's office.

The airline said "the damage was limited to a winglet on each aircraft" and the planes "have been taken out of service to be inspected."

The representatives' flight was headed to JFK. The other plane was headed to Charleston, South Carolina.

No one was injured in the incident.

The FAA issued a statement on the incident reading:

The wingtip of American Airlines Flight 5490 struck American Airlines Flight 4522 on a taxiway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport around 12:45 p.m. local time on Thursday, April 10. Flight 5490, a Bombardier CRJ 900, was headed to Charleston International Airport in South Carolina. Flight 4522, an Embraer E175, was headed to JFK International Airport in New York. The FAA will investigate. Please contact the airline for additional information.

A statement from Rep. LaLota's office was also issued:

This afternoon, while stationary on the runway at Washington National Airport (DCA) for approximately five minutes, the small commercial commuter plane carrying Congressman Nick LaLota was lightly bumped by another aircraft. Congressman LaLota’s flight was headed to JFK, while the other plane was bound for Charleston, South Carolina.

Following the minor contact, both planes returned to the terminal for standard safety inspections. Congressman LaLota was unharmed, and there were no reported injuries among his fellow passengers. The Congressman is grateful for the swift and professional response by the flight crew, who prioritized the safety and well-being of everyone on board.

In addition to the many New Yorkers aboard, Representatives Gregory Meeks, Grace Meng, Josh Gottheimer, Ritchie Torres, and Adriano Espaillat were also on the flight. Congressman LaLota intends to bring this firsthand experience to his work in Congress, advocating for stronger aviation oversight and enhanced public safety to help prevent similar incidents in the future.

This is a developing story.

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