Two United Airlines jets were involved in a minor collision at San Francisco International Airport on Labor Day, raising fresh concerns about ground safety procedures at one of the country’s busiest travel hubs.
The incident occurred Monday night as one aircraft was being pushed back from its gate and made contact with the tail of another parked plane.
According to a statement provided by a United spokesperson, “a United aircraft being pushed back from the gate at San Francisco International Airport made contact with the tail of a parked United aircraft.” No injuries were reported in the incident.
Passengers Rebooked After Collision
The collision involved United flight UA796, which was scheduled to depart for Boston, and United flight UA1871, which was headed to Denver.
Passengers aboard both flights were able to disembark safely and were rebooked onto alternative flights to continue their travel plans.
Despite the disruption, no injuries occurred, and no medical treatment was needed at the scene. The incident generated widespread attention online, particularly within aviation circles and social media platforms.
Images and firsthand accounts quickly surfaced from individuals claiming to be passengers on the affected aircraft.
One user posted on Reddit, “A small bump and the plane shook for a bit and pilot made the announcement a few minutes later.” Another passenger told KGO, a local San Francisco news outlet, that the moment of contact felt similar to an earthquake.
