Delta Flight to Guatemala city Delayed After Collision at Atlanta airport

ATLANTA, GA – A Delta Air Lines flight scheduled to depart Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta international Airport (ATL) for Guatemala city, Guatemala, was delayed nearly four hours Sunday morning after making contact with another delta aircraft during pushback procedures.

What Happened

Delta flight 1830, a Boeing 757-200 registration N525DL, was preparing to depart for Guatemala City’s La Aurora International Airport (GUA) at approximately 10:00 AM EDT when its winglet made contact with the tail section of a parked, unoccupied Delta aircraft, a Boeing 737-900 registration N853DL. The incident occurred as the flight crew initiated pushback from gate T7.

According to Delta representatives, all 192 passengers, along with four flight attendants adn two pilots, were safely onboard during the incident. No injuries to passengers or crew were reported. Airport authorities confirmed that the collision caused minor damage to both aircraft.

Passengers were deplaned and transferred to a replacement aircraft, N528DL, another Boeing 757-200, before continuing their journey. The flight ultimately departed at 1:48 PM EDT and is expected to arrive in Guatemala City shortly before 4:00 PM Eastern time.

Delta’s Statement

Delta Air Lines released the following statement regarding the incident:

“The wing of DL1830 reportedly made contact with another Delta aircraft during pushback at the gate. There were no reports of injuries for crew or customers on the flight. We apologize to our customers for the experience and delay in their travels.”

Understanding aircraft Pushback and Safety

Aircraft pushback is a critical maneuver performed by ground handling crews to move an aircraft away from the gate and into a position where it can safely start its engines and taxi to the runway. This process typically involves a specialized vehicle called a pushback tractor, connected to the aircraft’s nose gear. Strict protocols are in place to ensure the safety of this operation, including visual signals and communication between the flight crew and ground personnel.

While incidents involving aircraft collisions during pushback are rare, they underscore the complex and frequently enough congested habitat of modern airports. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is consistently ranked as one of the busiest airports in the world, handling over 100 million passengers annually, increasing the potential for such occurrences.

The Federal Aviation Management (FAA) will likely investigate the incident to determine the cause and prevent similar events in the future. Investigations typically involve reviewing flight data recorders, interviewing personnel, and inspecting the damaged aircraft.

Flight Details

• Flight Number: DL1830
• Origin: Atlanta (ATL)
• Destination: Guatemala City (GUA)
• Aircraft Type (Initial): Boeing 757-200 (N525DL)
• Aircraft Type (Replacement): Boeing 757-200 (N528DL)
• Scheduled Departure: 10:00 AM EDT
• Actual Departure: 1:48 PM EDT

Source: Facts for this article was obtained from Delta Air Lines statements, FlightAware.com, and airport officials.