Plane Clips Another During Takeoff at Detroit Metro

ROMULUS, MI – Passengers on a couple of flights out of Detroit Metro Airport Wednesday morning reshuffled their travel plans after the wing of a departing American Airlines 737 clipped the tail of a Southwest Airlines 737 parked on the de-icing pad, grounding both flights.

“Well, that’s a first,” passenger Amy Telinda tweeted from the Southwest Flight. “Just got hit by another plane while getting de-iced at DTW.”

Some passengers reported being on the plane for two hours. The airlines did hand out snacks, though.

“Everyone waiting to learn our new plans for the day,” a user tweeted after the passengers returned to the terminal.

Airport spokeswoman Erica Donerson said the Southwest aircraft was on the deicing pad when the Dallas-bound American Airlines plane clipped it.

There were no injuries, and airlines are rebooking passengers on other flights, she said.

Technicians from the airport and the National Transportation Safety Board will inspect both aircraft.