ATLANTA- A few months ago, Delta Air Lines (DL) Airbus A350, registered as N503DN collided with another Delta plane, Bombardier CRJ at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).
The aircraft is grounded obviously because it was damaged severely and is under repair.
Delta A350 Collided with CRJ Status
On September 10, 2024, Delta Flight DL295 operated by a 7-year-old A350 bound for Tokyo Haneda (HND), struck Endeavor Air Flight 5526, a CRJ900 destined for Lafayette, Louisiana, with its wingtip.
The incident is under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigation and that is why there is limited information on it. But we got an update from a Reddit user who likely is an aircraft technician working on it.
According to Delta Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT), the A350 is grounded, and undergoing extensive repairs due to significant internal structural damage to the wing.
Both, Airbus and Delta engineers have been involved since the incident to design an appropriate repair, as this level of wingtip damage on an A350 is unprecedented.
The collision bent and cracked parts of the wing structure just inboard of the winglet. The repair has been slowed by the complexity of the work and a two- to three-month wait for replacement parts, which aren’t readily available for this newer aircraft model.
Delta’s maintenance technicians reported seeing severe deformation and cracking in the wing’s internal structures, requiring extensive non-destructive testing (NDT) and analysis, followed by communication with Airbus for detailed repair instructions.
The CRJ’s fate remains uncertain, as Delta and its insurers continue to assess repair feasibility. External repairs on the A350 require a rigorous process of fabrication, installation, inspection, and certification to ensure airworthiness.
So at last to conclude such kind of incident with the A350 has never happened in the world and this is one of the newest aircraft. So such repairs will take time.
Here’s the summary of information we received from technicians and engineers.
Summary of Work and Damage
Primary Impact Zone
- The collision caused significant damage to the A350’s wing structure
- The impact point is located just inboard of the winglet
- Internal structural components experienced severe bending and cracking
- Multiple internal wing structures required removal due to damage
Technical Challenges
- First recorded instance of this type of wing damage on an A350
- Composite construction requiring specialized repair protocols
- Possible hidden damage to spars and adjacent systems
- Complex non-destructive testing (NDT) requirements
Repair Process Complexities
Engineering Response
- Immediate involvement of the Airbus engineering team
- Development of custom repair procedures
- Extensive analysis of damage patterns
- Multiple inspection cycles required
Supply Chain Issues
- Extended lead time of 2-3 months for critical components
- Limited parts availability for newer aircraft types
- Special fabrication requirements for composite structures
- Complex procurement process for non-standard repair parts
CRJ900 Status
- Final disposition pending insurance company assessment
- Possibility of repair by the Delta maintenance team
- Details of damage extent not fully disclosed
- Insurance evaluation ongoing
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