Air traffic halted at Manchester after two jets clip wings on ground

(MANCHESTER, UK) Air traffic at Manchester Airport was halted on August 15, 2025, after two easyJet aircraft clipped wingtips on the ground, prompting a full emergency response and a temporary suspension of all flights. No injuries were reported, and operations began to restart by evening, but airlines warned of heavy delays and rolling knock-on effects likely to stretch into the following days as schedules were rebuilt.

The ground collision triggered a rapid pause across the airfield while teams secured the area, checked for fuel leaks and structural damage, and moved the aircraft. The disruption rippled far beyond easyJet, affecting departures and arrivals for Finnair, Virgin Atlantic, Jet2, and Cathay Pacific. With peak summer demand still running high, the airport’s hold on movements left thousands of passengers facing cancellations or long waits at gates and check-in areas.

Immediate disruption and safety response

The Manchester Airport Authority activated emergency protocols and worked with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), National Air Traffic Services (NATS), and local emergency services to stabilise the scene and start an investigation.

• NATS said there was no wider airspace safety risk, but a temporary ground stop at Manchester was required to manage the incident safely and keep crews and passengers out of harm’s way.
• As the evening progressed, limited flights pushed off the stand and a cautious restart took hold, though aircraft and crews were out of position and many rotations remained delayed.

easyJet confirmed its planes clipped wingtips and said safety remains its top priority. The airline reported no injuries to passengers or crew and said it is working closely with investigators. The CAA launched a formal investigation into what happened on the ground, including:

• airside traffic management
• staffing and equipment factors
• ground handling procedures

Findings are expected to shape recommendations and potentially new requirements for how vehicles and aircraft move around busy aprons.

Immediate guidance for people caught up in the disruption:
– Contact your airline through its app or website for rebooking.
– Ask about meal vouchers or hotel accommodation if you’re stranded overnight.
– Keep an eye on departure boards and airline alerts, as flight plans may change again when crews and aircraft reposition.

Under UK and EU rules, airlines are required to offer rebooking, accommodation, and compensation depending on the length and cause of a delay or cancellation. For official guidance on your rights and how to file a complaint, visit the UK Civil Aviation Authority at: https://www.caa.co.uk/passengers

Typical passenger scenarios and practical tips

Consider these common outcomes and recommended actions:

1. A family’s afternoon easyJet departure is grounded.
   • The airline moves them to a morning flight the next day and provides a hotel.
2. A solo traveller connecting onward after landing at Manchester sees the inbound diverted or delayed.
   • The carrier rebooks them on the next available service.

In both cases, passengers should:

• Accept the earliest workable option offered by the airline.
• Be ready for further changes as the airport clears the backlog.
• Keep documentation of expenses and communications in case you need to claim reimbursement or compensation.

Policy context and systemic pressures

The incident comes during an intense summer for UK aviation:

• In July 2025, NATS handled 248,138 flights, its highest monthly total since the pandemic—averaging more than 8,000 flights a day.
• The busiest day so far this year was July 18, with 8,340 flights.

Those figures underline how little slack exists in the system: a single stoppage at a major hub like Manchester can quickly jam nearby schedules and cascade across networks.

Only weeks earlier, on July 30, a separate radar technical problem led to more than 150 cancellations and widespread delays across the UK, exposing operational fragility when technology or ground movements fail. Airline leaders have pressed for faster fixes and clearer accountability across air traffic control and airport operations.

In June 2025 the government unveiled the UK Airspace Design Service (UKADS), billed as the largest redesign of UK airspace since the 1950s. The plan aims to:

• modernise flight paths
• cut delays
• raise safety by the end of 2025

Aviation Minister Mike Kane said the programme would “turbocharge growth in the aviation industry” while building resilience. If delivered on time, UKADS could help reduce congestion in the sky and smooth the flow of arrivals into crowded aprons, where careful spacing and choreography are vital to avoid ground contacts like Friday’s easyJet wingtips incident.

Other regulatory shifts relevant to the context:

• General Aviation Report (GAR) procedures (April 2024): tightened reporting for international flights and allow fines up to £10,000 for non-compliance.
• Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Mandate (2025): requires 2% of UK jet fuel to be SAF, with targets rising through 2040.

While neither policy is tied to Friday’s events, they show how airports and airlines are operating amid wider change in safety oversight, environmental goals, and reporting rules.

The summer also brings labour pressures. Planned industrial action by baggage screeners at Gatwick later in August could add further strain and extend the pattern of stop-start travel days across the country. Airlines say recurring shocks—technical glitches, strikes, and ground incidents—are eroding the buffers that help keep schedules steady.

What to expect next and passenger reminders

The CAA investigation at Manchester Airport will examine how two aircraft ended up close enough for their wingtips to touch and whether gaps in ground handling, staffing, or airside traffic control contributed.

The airport authority and airlines will consider interim steps now while reviewing rules for pushback, taxi, and stand movements during peak times. Lessons from recent disruptions—July’s radar outage and Friday’s ground collision—are likely to feed into UKADS and related safety work streams before year‑end.

Key practical reminders for travellers affected by Friday’s ground collision:

• All flights were temporarily suspended but have restarted; expect lingering delays.
• Airlines must offer rebooking, and where needed, hotels and meals.
• If your plans no longer work, ask about alternative routes on the same or partner carriers.
• Keep checking your airline’s app for gate changes and new departure times.
• If your airline has not advised travel to the airport, wait for a firm rebooking before setting out.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, Friday’s pause will likely affect thousands of passengers, and carriers will be expected to meet their duties under UK and EU passenger rights rules, including compensation where the law applies. That process can stretch over days as airlines process claims and verify the cause and length of each delay.

For many families, students, and workers moving through Manchester this weekend, the priority is simply getting on their way. easyJet and other carriers are moving aircraft and crews into place, but the queues will take time to clear.

• Flights began to resume on the evening of August 15, yet the backlog and crew duty limits mean delays may roll into the weekend.
• If your plans include connections, build in extra margin and be ready to accept the earliest available option your airline offers.