Near Miss at DCA: NYC Congress Members on Board

Several members of Congress from New York and New Jersey had a close call on Thursday afternoon when the American Airlines flight they were on, bound for JFK, experienced a wingtip collision with another aircraft at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

The incident occurred around 12:45 p.m. on the taxiway. American Airlines Flight 4522, carrying the Congress members, was struck by the wingtip of American Airlines Flight 5490 headed to Charleston.

Thankfully, no injuries were reported, and all passengers are safe. However, the incident prompted several representatives to comment on the event and raise concerns about recent cuts to the FAA.

Representative Statements:

Here's what some of the affected Congress members shared on X:

• Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY): Described the incident as a "once in a lifetime experience" and emphasized that everyone was okay.

• Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY): Expressed gratitude for everyone's safety but highlighted the need to restore FAA jobs to maintain runway safety.

• Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ): Noted the incident and linked it to recent FAA budget cuts.

• Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY): Emphasized that while no one was hurt, the incident caused a delay.

• Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY): Stressed the urgent need for increased FAA funding to prevent similar incidents.

• Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY): Connected the incident to a rise in aviation mishaps and criticized the Trump administration's decision to fire FAA staff.

American Airlines confirmed no injuries and stated that both planes were taken out of service for inspection. The damage was limited to a winglet on each aircraft.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority confirmed the incident did not disrupt airport operations.

This incident follows a mid-air collision earlier this year at the same airport, resulting in fatalities. This near-miss serves as a stark reminder of the importance of aviation safety and adequate funding for regulatory agencies.