Strikes Parked AAL Airliner In Holding Area

There was some bent metal on the tarmac at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on Wednesday, when the wingtip of a United Airlines Boeing 777 clipped the tail of an American Airlines MD-80 as the larger plane jockeyed for position in a holding area.

The incident occurred at 3:50 pm local time, as both aircraft were waiting out a thunderstorm in a holding area adjacent to runway 9-Right, according to the FAA.

No injuries were reported on either flight. The United 777 was operating as flight 149, heading to San Francisco; the American Airlines plane had been scheduled to depart for Seattle, as flight 1817.

Neither aircraft made its trip. Both planes returned to the gate, and were taken out of service. Passengers were offloaded, and both carriers were still working to place them on other flights Wednesday night.

American spokeswoman Mary Frances Fagan told the Chicago Tribune the United 777 took "a chunk" out of the MD-80's rudder.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 213UA        Make/Model: B772      Description: 777-200
  Date: 06/27/2007     Time: 2044

  Event Type: Incident   Highest Injury: None     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Unknown

LOCATION
  City: CHICAGO   State: IL   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  WINGTIP STRUCK TAIL OF PARKED AIRCRAFT, CHICAGO, IL.

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass: 141     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: 33018G30 3M TS RA FEW015 BKN065 OVC250 23/21

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Unknown      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: WEST CHICAGO, IL  (GL03)              Entry date: 06/28/2007

FMI: www.flychicago.com