- A Frontier A320neo struck the tail of a parked Delta CRJ-900 at Charlotte Airport during pushback.
- No injuries were reported, but both flights were canceled and both aircraft grounded for repairs.
- Federal investigators are reviewing tug telemetry data to determine if mechanical failure or human error caused the collision.
A Frontier A320neo struck the tail of a parked Delta Connection CRJ-900 during pushback Monday evening at Charlotte Airport, canceling both scheduled flights and grounding the aircraft for inspection. No passengers, crew members or ramp workers reported injuries.
The contact occurred at about 7:00 p.m. local time near Gate A32 at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Photos showed the Frontier aircraft’s wingtip touching the Delta jet’s tail.
Frontier flight F92395 was due to fly to Houston. Delta flight DL5051 was scheduled for New York LaGuardia. Both flights were canceled after the collision.
The Delta regional jet was empty. Delta said, “A Delta Connection aircraft, operated by Endeavor Air, was parked at a gate at Charlotte-Douglas airport when another aircraft pushing off its gate made contact. **No customers or crew were on board.**”
Frontier said its flight 2395 made contact with another airline’s parked aircraft while pushing back to depart for George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. The airline also said no injuries were reported.
Both airlines removed the aircraft from service. They face structural inspections and repair work before returning to the schedule.
Two aircraft remain grounded as investigators review the ramp movement
The damaged aircraft are a Frontier Airlines Airbus A320neo registered as N364FR and an Endeavor Air-operated Bombardier CRJ-900LR registered as N931XJ. The regional aircraft operated for Delta Connection.
| Aircraft | Registration | Scheduled flight | Destination | Condition after contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier Airlines Airbus A320neo | N364FR | F92395 | Houston, IAH | Grounded for inspection and repair |
| Endeavor Air Bombardier CRJ-900LR | N931XJ | DL5051 | New York, LGA | Grounded for inspection and repair |
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the positioning error. Investigators are reviewing ramp communication logs and tug telemetry data.
The review will examine whether a pushback tug suffered a mechanical failure or whether human error affected taxiway clearance. The tug operator and other ramp personnel involved face mandatory safety reviews.
Airport officials described the event as “slight contact” and said safety and security remain “top priorities.”
Cancellations followed a difficult operating day at the hub
The collision came during a strained operating period at the airport. Nearly 20% of flights departing on Monday were canceled because of severe weather and staffing issues.
Frontier passengers were deplaned and received meal vouchers, hotel accommodations upon request and travel vouchers for future flights. Most were rebooked on alternate flights the following morning.
Delta accommodated passengers booked on the New York flight through other Delta or partner services. The aircraft entered an “extended maintenance review.”
The two cancellations added another disruption at one of the country’s busiest airline hubs. Ground movements depend on coordinated work by flight crews, tug operators and ramp personnel, especially when aircraft sit close together at gates.
Another recent ground event renewed attention on Charlotte’s ramp
The collision was the second ground-related safety event at the airport in recent months. In April 2026, an American Airlines pilot had to “slam on the brakes” to avoid a Charlotte operations pickup truck on a taxiway.
Former National Transportation Safety Board investigator Jeff Guzzetti said ground collisions at busy hubs often expose operating-environment challenges. He pointed to the need for situational awareness during low-speed maneuvers in congested ramp areas.
Low speed does not eliminate the risk. A wingtip or tail strike can still take an aircraft out of service and disrupt passengers who were never involved in the contact.
As of July 29, 2026, N364FR and N931XJ remained at Charlotte for structural-integrity tests. The FAA and Endeavor Air are continuing their review of the ramp records and tug data, while both airlines keep the aircraft out of service.
