Two United Airlines aircraft were involved in a wing clipping incident early Tuesday at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), as confirmed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This event marks the second occurrence of its kind within a month at U.S. airports.

The Incident

United Airlines Flight 863, bound for Sydney, Australia, was in the process of pushing back from its gate shortly after 12:30 a.m. local time when its right wingtip collided with the left wingtip of United Flight 877, which was headed for Hong Kong. According to the FAA, this collision took place in an area where air traffic controllers do not interact with the flight crews.

Response and Aftermath

Fortunately, there were no reported injuries from the incident, and passengers from both flights were able to disembark without issue. A representative for United Airlines stated, “We are working with our customers to rebook them on other flights.”

Previous Incident

This incident follows a similar event at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport last month, involving two American Airlines regional jets. On that occasion, the wingtip of American Airlines Flight 5490 made contact with Flight 4522 on a taxiway, occurring around 12:45 p.m. Flight 5490 was on its way to Charleston, South Carolina, whereas Flight 4522 was en route to JFK International Airport in New York, carrying seven members of Congress.

Investigations and Safety Concerns

The FAA is currently investigating both incidents, especially in light of recent safety concerns at the Washington D.C. airport. In January, a tragic mid-air collision resulted in the loss of 67 lives, raising alarms about air traffic control protocols. A military flyover in March also prompted investigations due to its proximity to a departing flight.