United Airlines Planes Clip Wings at San Francisco International Airport, No Injuries Reported
San Francisco, CA, May 7, 2025 – Two United Airlines Boeing 777 jets collided on the tarmac at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) early Tuesday, May 6, 2025, when the wingtip of one plane struck the wing of another during a pushback maneuver. The incident, which occurred around 12:35 a.m. local time near the gate area, involved United Flight 863, bound for Sydney, Australia, and United Flight 877, headed to Hong Kong. No injuries were reported among the 524 passengers and crew, but both trans-Pacific flights were canceled, disrupting travel plans for hundreds.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Flight 863’s right wingtip struck the left wingtip of Flight 877 as it was pushing back from the gate in an area where air traffic controllers do not communicate with flight crews. An air traffic control recording captured a ramp controller warning the pilot of Flight 863, “You’re pushing pretty deep. Make sure the other plane is watching you,” moments before the collision. United Airlines confirmed the incident, stating, “A United aircraft made contact with the wing of another United aircraft while pushing back from a gate at SFO.” The airline did not disclose the extent of the damage but noted that both planes were taken out of service for inspection and repairs.
Flight 863 carried 202 passengers and 16 crew members, while Flight 877 had 306 passengers and 16 crew members. Passengers deplaned normally, and United is working to rebook them on other flights. A video shared by The New York Times showed ground crews inspecting the damaged wings using a hydraulic lift, highlighting the operational disruption. Posts on X, including from @AvSourceNews and @BreakinNewz01, described the incident as a “ground mishap” and noted visible damage to both aircraft, amplifying public concern about aviation safety.
This marks the second wingtip collision involving United planes at SFO in just over a year, following an April 2024 incident where a United Airbus A320 (Flight 2181) clipped a parked aircraft’s wing while parking. That event, attributed to tight gate quarters, prompted an FAA investigation into ground crew training and communication. Retired pilot Doug Rice, quoted by NBC Bay Area, suggested similar issues may have contributed to Monday’s collision, pointing to the challenges of maneuvering large aircraft in congested gate areas. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the latest incident, focusing on ground operations and pushback procedures.
The collision comes amid heightened scrutiny of aviation safety in the U.S., following a 90-second communications blackout at Newark Liberty International Airport last week and another wingtip incident at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on April 10, 2025, involving two American Airlines planes. CNN noted that such incidents, while rare, underscore ongoing challenges in ground handling as air travel demand surges. United’s recent history at SFO includes other mishaps, such as a March 2024 emergency landing after a bird strike and a February 2024 diverted flight due to wing damage.
For now, SFO operations have resumed normally, but the incident has fueled discussions on X about airline safety protocols, with users like @tparon calling it a “wake-up call” for tighter ground control. United has not announced when the affected aircraft will return to service, and passengers are advised to check flight statuses for rebooking options. As investigations proceed, the focus remains on preventing future ground collisions at one of the nation’s busiest airports.
Sources: The New York Times, CNN, ABC7 San Francisco, NBC Bay Area, San Francisco Chronicle, X posts