Two United Airlines aircraft collided at San Francisco International Airport on Monday evening, according to reports from aviation sources. United Flight 1871, en route from San Francisco to Denver, was pushing back from its gate when it struck the tail of United Flight 796, which remained parked at its gate bound for Boston. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the incident, stating that no injuries were reported and passengers on both flights deplaned without issue.
Video footage captured damage to the wing of one aircraft, while the FAA noted that the collision occurred in an area where air traffic controllers do not communicate with planes. FL360aero detailed that the parked aircraft sustained damage to its horizontal stabilizer, and the departing flight (UA1871) suffered harm near its auxiliary power unit. The cause of the crash is under investigation, with preliminary reports pointing to a failure in the towing bar of a tug vehicle. Passengers from both planes were reaccommodated on separate flights to their destinations. The FAA has announced it will conduct a full inquiry into the incident.