American Airlines Planes Collide on Taxiway at DCA, No Injuries

On Thursday, two American Airlines planes collided on the taxiway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, with no injuries reported. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that the wingtip of Flight 5490 struck Flight 4522 around 12:45 p.m. Several members of Congress were on board Flight 4522, including Representatives Nick LaLota, Grace Meng, and Josh Gottheimer, who took to social media to express relief over the lack of injuries while criticizing recent FAA staffing cuts that they believe compromise safety. The FAA has announced an investigation into the incident, which follows heightened scrutiny of air safety after a deadly midair collision earlier this year that claimed 67 lives. Lawmakers emphasized the urgent need for restoring FAA personnel to ensure safe operations at airports. The incident has raised concerns about air travel safety amid recent accidents and operational challenges.