Aviation News – Two commercial aircraft clipped wings Thursday morning at Raleigh-Durham International Airport NC, briefly disrupting operations but causing no injuries. The incident involved an Avelo Airlines aircraft under tow and a parked Southwest Airlines jet near Terminal One, highlighting the importance of ground safety procedures at busy airports.
The collision occurred when an Avelo aircraft being towed to a gate struck a Southwest aircraft that had arrived from Nashville the previous night and was not yet scheduled for a new flight. Both aircraft were unoccupied at the time, and airport authorities confirmed there were no injuries. The Avelo flight, scheduled to depart for New Haven at 8:30 a.m., was delayed following the incident.
Ground towing operations are a routine but critical part of airport activity, requiring precise coordination between ground crews, tug operators, and air traffic management. Even at low speeds, wingtip clearance is minimal in gate areas, making strict adherence to procedures essential to prevent aircraft damage and operational delays.