CHICAGO- A United Airlines (UA) Boeing 737-900ER lightly scraped the tail of an All Nippon Airways (NH) Cargo Boeing 777F while taxiing to the gate at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) on Thursday. The contact caused minor damage to both aircraft, which remain grounded for inspection.
The United flight UA1834 had just arrived from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), while the ANA Cargo flight NH8421 was awaiting clearance for departure to Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT). Aviation insider JonNYC described the contact as a light scrape with very minor damage.
United 737 Winglet Strikes Parked ANA Cargo 777F at O’Hare
The ANA Cargo Boeing 777F was parked, awaiting clearance to enter one of O’Hare’s busy runways, when the United 737-900ER taxied behind after arriving from Boston. As the two aircraft crossed paths, the 737’s winglet reportedly clipped the tail of the cargo jet, resulting in damage to both planes.
Air traffic control transcripts from LiveATC.net captured the moment controllers became aware of the contact. The controller instructed the ANA flight to hold position and then taxi off the runway to allow for inspection.
ATC: “All Nippon 8421 Heavy, just hold position please.”
Pilot: “Okay.”
ATC: “All Nippon 8421 Heavy, I have to taxi you off of the runway. So, uhh, another aircraft might have clipped your tail. So I need you to taxi forward down the runway and then turn left at taxiway Mike, and I will have more for you there.”
Pilot: “Did we get any damage to the aircraft?”
ATC: “I’m not sure, we’re gonna find that out, but there’s a possible uhh, aircraft winglet that might have struck your tail. We’re not sure just yet, we’re gonna find out what’s up.”
The 777F has been removed from service and remains on the ground in Chicago while engineers inspect the damage, Simple Flying flagged.
Airlines Confirm the Light Scrape Incident
Both carriers have confirmed the contact at O’Hare. All Nippon Airways stated it is aware of the incident involving flight NH8421 and a United aircraft, and is working with relevant authorities to verify information.
A United Airlines spokesperson confirmed that while taxiing to the gate, the 737 lightly scraped the tail of another aircraft. Customers deplaned normally at the gate. The Chicago-based legacy carrier confirmed there were 154 passengers and 7 crew members onboard. No injuries have been reported.
Aircraft Details of the Two Jets Involved
According to ch-aviation, both aircraft are owned by their respective operators.
The United Boeing 737-924ER carries registration N75433 and serial number 33527. The 17.2-year-old jet completed its first test flight on March 10, 2009, and was delivered to Continental Airlines on March 20, 2009. It joined the United fleet on November 30, 2011, following the Continental-United merger.
The All Nippon Airways Cargo Boeing 777F carries registration JA771F and serial number 65756. The 7.5-year-old freighter completed its first test flight on November 12, 2018, and was delivered to ANA Cargo on May 23, 2019.
Standard Safety Procedure After Ground Contact
When one aircraft clips another on the ground, both planes are typically pulled from service immediately. This allows ground engineers to inspect for structural damage and complete repairs to ensure airworthiness. Passengers usually remain onboard while ground crews carry out the initial inspection.
Ground vehicles also sweep the taxiway or runway to remove any loose debris that could damage other aircraft. Depending on the severity, planes can remain grounded for several days or weeks. Both airlines may need to source replacement aircraft to cover scheduled operations during the downtime.
The incident adds to a list of recent ground collisions at Chicago O’Hare, one of the busiest airports in the United States.
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