NORTH CAROLINA- An American Airlines (AA) Boeing 737 was hit by a garbage truck while passengers were waiting to take off at North Carolina’s Greensboro Airport (GSO).
The flight was delayed after the vehicle unexpectedly backed into it at Piedmont Triad International Airport on Friday morning during boarding.
American Airlines 737 Damaged by Garbage
The impact caused the plane to shake, leaving a piece of the garbage truck wedged in the wing, which sustained significant damage.
Passengers were forced to disembark and return to the airport after the incident. The flight, destined for Dallas (DFW), was delayed for several hours.
“We had just boarded when we felt a powerful jolt for several seconds and then another one,” passenger Joni Crofoot told WFMY News 2.
Photos from the scene show airport staff and police surrounding the green garbage truck involved in the incident. A part of the truck, operated by a contractor, became lodged in the left wing of the plane, causing significant damage.
The collision occurred while passengers were boarding, causing the plane to shake.
Basketball coach Steve Forbes, who was on board, described the sensation as feeling like an earthquake.
“Here is a new one for those of us who travel by air,” he wrote on X. “Sitting on the plane in Greensboro preparing to depart. The plane begins to violently shake. Is it an earthquake?!? Nope, just a garbage truck running into the plane.”
Flight Delayed by 6 hours and 30 Minutes
Passengers were forced to leave the plane and wait for further information about their flight, which was delayed for several hours.
They were seen at the gate, with some waiting around the American Airlines kiosk for updates.
No injuries were reported among the 143 passengers and six crew members on board.
The flight operated by 737-800, registered as N981AN to Dallas was rescheduled for Friday afternoon using a different aircraft.
A spokesperson for American Airlines said, “During the boarding of American Airlines flight AA1716 from Greensboro, NC (GSO) to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), a vehicle made contact with the wing of the aircraft.
All customers and crew members deplaned and returned to the terminal, and the aircraft was taken out of service for maintenance.
We thank our team members for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for the inconvenience.”
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