Two Delta planes collide in New York during US federal shutdown

Two planes crashed at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on Wednesday, 1 October 2026, just before 10:00 pm. According to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the incident took place between two Delta Air Lines regional craft. It saw parts of the fuselage of incoming Flight 5047 from Charlotte impact the wing of Virginia-bound Endeavor Flight 5155.

There were 32 people on board the Charlotte flight and 61 on their way to Virginia. Remarkably, only one person, a flight attendant, was hurt and was treated at the scene by first responders and later required hospitalisation, Delta and the Port Authority have confirmed, describing the injuries as non-life-threatening. The other passengers were deplaned and escorted to shuttle buses before being offered accommodation as needed and new flights.

Despite passenger descriptions of a collision which “absolutely smashed” and “violent,” the supposedly “low-speed” crash had no significant impact on airport operations, the Port Authority has said.

Footage captured from the runway shows holes torn in the nose of one of the CRJ-900 aircraft. “We have two CRJs on M that collided,” the pilot of flight 5047 said over the radio to ground control, according to a LiveATC.net recording. “Their right wing clipped our nose and the cockpit wind screens.” Meanwhile, CBS News producer Joey Annunziato, who was on board Flight 5047 said its “wing looked like it was almost like off the plane.”

An investigation will ensue. Delta has apologised to customers and promised to “work with all relevant authorities to review what occurred as safety of our customers and people comes before all else.”

Initial details released by the FAA say that air traffic controllers had directed Flight 5155 to hold and yield to the other plane before the collision occurred at the intersection of Taxiways M and A.

It is unclear if the current federal government shutdown in the US had any influence on air traffic control conditions at the time of the crash, which happened less than a day after legislators and Congress failed to agree on a budget. Airlines had already signalled the dangers posed to aviation when federal staff, such as air traffic controllers who are deemed “essential workers”, are put under pressure by being obliged to work for no pay.

Two Delta Air Lines regional aircraft collide at low speed while taxiing at New York City's LaGuardia Airport.

Although a total of 93 people were involved in the incident, only one person, a cabin crew member, was injured.

According to reports, Endeavor flight 5155 was taxiing… pic.twitter.com/arYcTw0hGx

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It was a mass walkout by air traffic control staff at LaGuardia that helped to bring 2019’s federal shutdown to an end due to the knock-on disruptive effect it had on aviation across the US.