United Airlines Boeing 737s Collide on Ground at Houston Airport

Two Boeing 737-900ER aircraft operated by United Airlines collided during pushback at Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport on the evening of November 18, 2023. The incident involved flights scheduled to travel to Cleveland and Orlando, resulting in significant damage to one of the planes and delays for passengers.

The collision occurred as both aircraft were preparing for departure. Flight UA544, bound for Cleveland, was being pushed back from its gate when it turned onto the taxiway, while Flight UA2451 was pushed straight back. The right winglet of UA2451 struck the left winglet of UA544, tearing off the tip of the latter’s winglet.

Both aircraft were immediately returned to their gates for inspection and deplaning of passengers. Approximately 358 passengers were affected by the delays and were subsequently rebooked onto replacement flights.

Details of the Incident and Response

Flight UA544, scheduled to depart at 18:25 and arrive in Cleveland at 22:10, was operated by N69806, a Boeing 737-900ER with a capacity of 179 passengers. Flight UA2451 was en route from Newark to Orlando, with a scheduled departure from Houston at 18:33 and arrival at 21:58. It was operated by N68843, a similar 737-900ER.

After the collision, ground crews quickly identified the damage. A passenger on UA544 first noticed the issue, but it was likely the ground crew who alerted the pilots. Following the incident, both aircraft were taken to United’s maintenance hangars for inspections.

While N69806, which sustained visible damage, has since been repaired and returned to service on November 21, 2023, N68843 remains grounded with no future scheduled flights. The reason for its continued unavailability is unclear, but it may relate to the extent of the damage or maintenance capacity.

Implications and Industry Context

Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the incident. However, the collision highlights ongoing concerns regarding ground safety at U.S. airports. This incident follows a series of similar occurrences, including a United Boeing 737-700 striking a parked Boeing 767-300ER in Chicago and two Delta Connection CRJ-900s colliding at LaGuardia Airport earlier this year.

These occurrences point to a troubling trend of ground collisions, often attributed to lapses in awareness among ground crews or possible miscommunications. The Houston incident serves as a reminder of the critical need for vigilance during aircraft maneuvering, especially when engines are off and ground personnel are responsible for safe operations.

As the aviation industry continues to recover and adapt post-pandemic, incidents like these underscore the importance of stringent safety protocols to protect both passengers and aircraft from preventable damage.