Two United Airlines Jets Collide on Houston Tarmac; No Injuries Reported
Travelers at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport were stunned on Nov. 18 when two United Airlines jets collided on the tarmac. While airline officials confirmed no injuries, passengers reported feeling a sudden jolt, raising questions about ground safety protocols.
The incident involved two Boeing 737-900 aircraft. Flight 544, bound for Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport with 101 passengers and six crew, struck the wing of Flight 2451, carrying 73 passengers and six crew members to Orlando International Airport. Flight 2451 had just pushed back from its gate when the collision occurred.
A United Airlines spokesperson said:
“Flight 544 was taxiing when it made contact with the wing of Flight 2451, which had just pushed back from the gate. Both planes returned safely, and all passengers deplaned normally. Replacement aircraft were arranged to continue each flight to its destination.”
According to FlightAware, the flights were scheduled to depart minutes apart. Both were delayed over two hours before reaching their destinations.
This is not the first recent ground incident for United. Last month, Flight 2652 at Chicago O’Hare clipped the horizontal stabilizer of a stationary aircraft. No injuries occurred, though passengers experienced a 40-minute delay. Passenger Bill Marcus recalled, “I didn’t realize anything had happened until the delay was announced.”
Other notable aviation incidents this year include:
September: An American Airlines flight at LAX aborted takeoff after another plane crossed the active runway without authorization.
October: A JetBlue A320 experienced a flight control malfunction from Cancun to Newark, forcing an emergency landing in Tampa. Several passengers were injured.
August: An American Airlines flight from Philadelphia to Phoenix made an unscheduled landing at Washington Dulles after a passenger’s electronic device caught fire.
July: A United Airlines Boeing 787 en route to Munich faced a left engine malfunction shortly after takeoff from Dulles, prompting multiple mayday calls.
Despite these events, airline travel remains statistically safer than ever. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, 2025 has recorded 239 fatal crashes and 1,023 non-fatal crashes worldwide, continuing a downward trend in deadly accidents since 2019.
Conclusion
The Houston tarmac collision highlights that even routine ground operations carry risks. Coupled with other recent incidents, it underscores the importance of stringent safety protocols and vigilance. Yet, overall airline safety continues to improve globally, offering reassurance to travelers despite occasional mishaps.