Planes collide at Reagan Airport: One had several members of Congress aboard

On Thursday afternoon, at Washington, D.C.'s Ronald Reagan National Airport, one plane's wingtip hit another plane while they were on the taxiway. The accident happened around 12:45 p.m. and involved two American Airlines flights. One was headed to Charleston, South Carolina, and the other was going to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

It appears that at least three members of Congress were on one of the flights. Thankfully, no one was injured. Representative Nick LaLota shared on social media about the incident, saying, "Being in Congress has brought some unique experiences… like just now, while sitting on the runway at DCA, another plane bumped into our wing." He added that they were returning to the gate but that everyone was okay, and joked that Representative Grace Meng was handing out grapes.

Grace Meng, who represents Queens, New York, confirmed in her response that she and her colleagues were fine. She expressed her gratitude that no one was hurt and emphasized the need to restore FAA jobs that ensure runway safety.

Representative Josh Gottheimer from New Jersey was also on the flight. He told ABC News that the plane shook a lot and it was obvious they had been hit. The pilot announced that they would be returning to the gate.

In a statement, American Airlines said the damage was minor and only affected the winglets of both planes. They are taking both planes out of service for inspection. A spokesperson for Reagan National Airport mentioned that flight operations were not impacted since both aircraft returned to the gates without any reported injuries.

Earlier in January, there was a tragic incident involving an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter that collided over the Potomac River near the airport. All 64 people on the American flight and three on the helicopter lost their lives.

Before the January crash, lawmakers had expressed concerns about overcrowding at the airport after a new aviation bill was passed. This bill, signed by then-President Joe Biden, added five new daily long-haul flights and aimed to improve safety and airport infrastructure. Senator Chris Van Hollen criticized the bill, saying it ignored safety and congestion issues.

Reagan National Airport is one of the busiest in the country and is often rated as one of the hardest to operate, according to NBC Washington. Senator Tim Kaine noted that the airport handles 25 million passengers annually, despite being designed for only 15 million.