London, UK – Two Boeing airplanes collided on the ground at Heathrow Airport on Saturday. An empty Virgin Atlantic jet was being towed when its wingtip clipped a parked British Airways airliner, causing minor damage to both aircraft. The incident took place at Terminal 3, with no passengers reported injured during the collision.
Fortunately, operations at the UK’s busiest airport were not affected by the crash. British Airways confirmed that their engineering teams were assessing the damage to their aircraft and had provided an alternative plane to minimize disruption to customers. Virgin Atlantic, on the other hand, stated that their Boeing 787-9 had just landed and was in the process of being towed when the collision occurred. The airline has initiated a full investigation and their engineering teams are conducting maintenance checks on the aircraft.
Both airlines assured that there would be no impact on their flight schedules due to the incident. Emergency services were promptly on the scene, and Heathrow Airport was coordinating with the airlines to address the situation. Witness Alex Whittles, a private pilot, described how the collision appeared inevitable as he observed the tug pushing the Virgin 787 at an incorrect angle towards the British Airways plane.
Whittles noted that emergency crews acted swiftly to ensure the safety of everyone involved. He mentioned that despite the crash, there were no fires or major concerns, and the focus was on detangling the two planes without causing further damage. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of safety protocols and quick responses in handling aircraft mishaps at busy airports.