United Airlines Planes Clip Wings at San Francisco Airport, FAA to Investigate

In the early hours of Tuesday, May 6, two United Airlines Boeing 777s had an unexpected rendezvous at San Francisco International Airport. As Flight 863, bound for Sydney, Australia, pushed back from the gate, its right wingtip grazed the left wingtip of Flight 877, headed to Hong Kong, China. The incident, occurring around 12:35 a.m. in an area outside air traffic control’s chatter, left both planes grounded but passengers unscathed.

United Airlines swiftly moved to rebook passengers, ensuring no one was left stranded. The Federal Aviation Administration is now investigating this wingtip waltz, which highlights the tight choreography of airport tarmacs. While no injuries were reported, the event underscores the challenges of maneuvering massive aircraft in close quarters, a reminder that even in the high-tech world of aviation, a slight misstep can clip someone’s wings.