Aug. 9--A wingtip-to-wingtip brush between two United Airlines planes waiting to take off from Chicago O'Hare International Airport on Monday frayed the nerves and patience of many of the 223 passengers aboard the two aircraft, but it injured no one.
The incident occurred about 3:15 p.m. and involved United Flight 682 to New York's LaGuardia Airport and Flight 618 to Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, said United spokesman Jeff Green.
Both Airbus A320 planes were waiting in a holding area known to pilots as the "penalty box," where aircraft are often sent after they have departed the gate but are not yet cleared to take off. Flight 618 started moving, and its left wing clipped the stationary Flight 682's right wing.
"We're taxiing along, and all of a sudden we hear a clunk," said Kelly McClanahan, who was returning home to Washington on Flight 618. "We look out the window, and our wing was under their wing.
"It was like--Oh, boy, now that is exciting."
Exciting as the moment might have been, the subsequent three hours or so were a lesson in tedium, McClanahan said. The planes' passengers sat in the parked aircraft, while aircraft technicians assessed damage to both planes.
"They gave us pretzels and water," McClanahan said.
Passengers on Flight 682 had the benefit of soft drinks and a film that was in progress, as that flight had already been delayed for more than an hour.
"Well, things are going bad and just getting worse," Brad Jones, 54, of Lakewood, Wash., remembered thinking when the planes touched.
Flight 682 was able to taxi back to a gate, where the passengers were removed and placed on another aircraft at 6:15 p.m., Green said.
Flight 618 was towed to the gate. Passengers were put aboard a replacement aircraft at 6:30 p.m.
Green said the accident's cause is under investigation.
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