CHICAGO— Two United Airlines (UA) aircraft made contact while taxiing at O’Hare International Airport (ORD) on Friday afternoon (October 17, 2025), prompting a brief operational delay but no injuries.
The incident involved United Flight 2652, arriving from Jackson Hole (JAC), which struck another stationary United aircraft while heading toward its designated gate. There were 113 passengers and five crew members aboard the arriving flight, while the other aircraft had no passengers.
Two United Planes Collided at O’Hare
According to the airline, the collision occurred when Flight 2652’s right wing tip clipped the rear stabilizer of the parked aircraft. Airport personnel and airline crews quickly responded, and passengers deplaned normally.
The incident took place at around 2:30 p.m. local time. Preliminary reports indicate that the taxiing aircraft was on its final approach to the gate when the contact occurred.
Ground operations were momentarily paused to assess the situation and inspect both aircraft for potential damage.
United Airlines issued a statement confirming that there were no injuries and that all passengers disembarked safely, as quoted in CBS News:
Our teams followed standard safety procedures, and passengers exited the aircraft normally….Both aircraft will be thoroughly inspected before returning to service.
Passenger Experience
Passengers aboard Flight 2652 described the experience as uneventful until the delay announcement was made. Some travelers initially believed it to be a routine operational hold before noticing activity outside the window.
Bill Marcus, a passenger on the flight, said the contact was barely noticeable.:
I didn’t feel anything at first…It wasn’t until I saw more crew members gathering around the plane that I realized something had happened.
He added that passengers waited approximately 40 minutes before the plane reached the gate.
Despite the brief delay, Marcus and other travelers praised the crew’s calm handling of the situation, noting that communication remained clear throughout.
Investigation and Response
Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and United Airlines are investigating the cause of the taxiway incident. Early indications suggest that ground positioning and visibility factors during the approach to the gate may have played a role.
Runway and taxiway congestion at O’Hare, one of the busiest airports in the United States, can occasionally lead to ground handling challenges. The FAA has not reported any additional operational impact at the airport as a result of the event.
Maintenance teams inspected both aircraft following the collision. United confirmed that repairs and safety checks are underway to ensure compliance with all regulatory standards before the planes reenter service.
Similar Incident
Two United Airlines (UA) flights experienced unrelated disruptions within 24 hours at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Officials confirmed that both incidents prompted safety checks and temporary flight delays, but no injuries were reported.
The first event involved a minor aircraft contact during pushback, while the second saw a return to SFO after reports of a burning odor in the cabin. Both aircraft were safely handled and later inspected as part of standard safety procedures.
The first disruption occurred on Monday night when United Airlines Flight 1871 to Denver (DEN) clipped the tail of United Airlines Flight 796 to Boston (BOS) during pushback at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that the collision happened in a non-controlled ramp area, where aircraft movements are managed by ground crews rather than air traffic control.
Following the contact, both planes were taken out of service for inspection. Passengers were safely deplaned and later rebooked on replacement aircraft.
United Airlines confirmed there were no injuries and said normal boarding procedures were followed before the incident. The FAA has opened an investigation to determine the cause.
Bottom Line
While minor ground collisions are uncommon, incidents like this highlight the complexity of airport surface operations at major hubs such as O’Hare.
In this case, both safety systems and crew protocols worked as intended, preventing injuries and minimizing disruption.
The investigation will determine whether procedural or human factors contributed to the event. For now, United Airlines continues to cooperate fully with authorities to ensure such occurrences are prevented in the future.
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