A Delta Air Lines plane had a close call while landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on Sunday night. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the plane’s left wing struck the runway during landing at around 10:10 p.m. The pilots quickly responded by performing a go-around, a standard safety maneuver where the aircraft aborts the landing and ascends again to attempt another safe landing.
What Happened?
The aircraft involved was a CRJ-900, a regional jet that was flying from Jacksonville, Florida, to New York City. It was operated by Endeavor Air, the same Delta regional carrier that was involved in a crash landing in Toronto earlier this year.
Air traffic control audio captured a controller informing the pilot:
“Somebody saw some sparks from one of your wings, you guys feel anything?”
The pilot replied: “We didn’t, but we’ll check it.”
Despite the unexpected contact with the runway, the 76 passengers, two pilots, and two flight attendants on board were unharmed. There were no injuries reported, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which manages LaGuardia and other major airports in the city.
What’s Next?
Following the incident, Delta apologized to passengers for the situation and confirmed that the aircraft had been removed from service for inspection and maintenance. The airline did not specify when the plane would return to flying.
Airport operations were not affected by the event, and flights at LaGuardia continued as usual.
The FAA is now investigating to determine what caused the wing to hit the runway and to ensure flight safety.
What is a Go-Around?
A go-around is a normal and safe procedure used by pilots when a landing does not go as planned. It allows the aircraft to gain altitude and try landing again under safer conditions. While uncommon, go-arounds are a key safety feature in aviation and are performed for many reasons, including weather conditions, unexpected runway obstacles, or unstable landings.
Final Thoughts
Although this was an unexpected and potentially dangerous incident, the quick response from the pilots helped ensure everyone’s safety. Delta and aviation authorities are now working to find out what went wrong and prevent future occurrences.
