Two United Airlines Planes Collide While Taxiing at Houston IAH

(HOUSTON, TX) Two United Airlines Boeing 737 jets collided while taxiing at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport on the night of November 18, 2025, forcing both aircraft back to the gate and disrupting plans for hundreds of travelers, including many on tight immigration and visa schedules. The ground collision happened as one plane prepared to depart for Cleveland and the other for Orlando, turning a routine evening departure window into a tense delay across part of the airport’s operations.

What happened on the taxiway

According to United Airlines, the Cleveland-bound flight carried 101 passengers and 6 crew, while the Orlando flight had 73 passengers and 6 crew on board. As the aircraft moved on the taxiway, the winglet tip of the Cleveland-bound jet was ripped off when the two planes made contact.

Passengers described feeling a minor jolt, then noticing visible damage to the wing. No injuries were reported on either aircraft, but the damage was serious enough that both planes had to leave service for repairs.

Several travelers later said they first realized something was wrong when they saw a piece of the wing fall away. One passenger pressed the call button to alert cabin crew. At first, a flight attendant reportedly replied, “No, that didn’t happen,” before the extent of the damage became clear. For many on board, that moment added confusion to an already stressful event, especially for families and foreign nationals who were worried about missing onward flights and immigration-related appointments.

Passenger impact and re-accommodation

Both aircraft taxied back to their gates, and United Airlines moved to rebook passengers. The airline said customers were re-accommodated on other flights, but the ripple effect was wide.

• With two Boeing 737s suddenly out of service, United’s evening schedule out of Houston came under pressure.
• Up to 358 passengers felt the impact through cancellations, missed connections, or long delays, according to figures shared after the incident.

Why delays matter for international travelers

For travelers passing through a major hub like Houston, delays are not just an inconvenience. Many international passengers connect through the city on their way to visa interviews, work assignments, or study programs in the United States.

When a ground event like this pushes flights into the next day, it can lead to:

• Missed appointments at U.S. consulates abroad
• Late arrivals to new jobs
• Shortened stays under strict visa rules

Immigration lawyers say they regularly hear from people worried about what a forced change in travel plans could mean for their lawful status.

Official response and investigations

United Airlines confirmed the collision and said the carrier is cooperating with federal regulators. The airline repeated that safety is its top priority and noted that maintenance teams would carry out a full review of the damage before either aircraft returns to service.

The company also said it is working with airport authorities in Houston to review ground operations and taxi procedures, a standard step when two aircraft touch on the ground at a busy airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have opened investigations into what led to the contact between the two jets. The FAA confirmed it would examine taxi plans, controller instructions, and crew actions on both aircraft.

Official guidance on aviation safety and investigations is available through the Federal Aviation Administration, which often posts preliminary summaries after incidents at large hubs.

Damage, repairs, and operational effects

Early details from the scene at Houston point to a low-speed impact, but repairs are expected to be expensive. A damaged winglet may seem minor to many passengers, yet it plays a role in fuel use and aircraft performance.

• Until inspections and repairs are complete, both United Airlines jets will stay out of service.
• That puts extra strain on the airline’s schedule at a time when many travelers rely on steady flight options for work visas, student programs, and family visits.

Immigration-specific guidance and resources

For foreign nationals caught up in the disruption, the practical problems can go far beyond a missed dinner or hotel night.

• Someone entering the U.S. on a tight B-1/B-2 visitor visa, or a student arriving just before the start of classes, may worry about how late arrival affects their plans.
• According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, incidents like this often lead to anxious calls about what happens if delays cause someone to reach the border later than expected, or push a return flight close to the last day allowed on their Form I-94 record.

The Form I-94 arrival/departure record, which the government issues to most non‑citizens when they enter the country, lists their last day of authorized stay. Travelers can check their record online through U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the official Form I-94 arrival/departure record site.

Immigration attorneys stress that a delay caused by an airline or airport incident usually does not change the date already granted on the I-94. However, people whose flights are pushed back several days should:

• Keep copies of airline emails and rebooking notices
• Save boarding passes and any correspondence showing reason and timing of changes
• Contact immigration counsel if changes risk violating visa time limits

Broader implications for hub operations and safety

From an aviation and immigration policy point of view, the Houston collision raises questions about the pressure on ground operations at major hubs that handle large numbers of international passengers.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport serves as a key gateway for travelers coming from Latin America, Europe, and Asia. When a taxiway incident shuts down two aircraft and knocks out departure slots, it can create a chain reaction that affects connecting flights to and from overseas markets, where visas, work permits, and legal entry times are tightly managed.

Aviation unions have long called for:

• Strong staffing at busy airports
• Clear taxiway markings
• Robust reporting of close calls — even those that do not cause visible damage

They note close calls on the ground often go unreported; this time, a broken winglet and two grounded jets provided a stark reminder of what can happen when even a slow-speed contact occurs.

For many travelers whose visa plans now carry an extra story about an unexpected night in Houston, the incident is a personal lesson in how closely air safety, airline operations, and immigration journeys are tied together.

Passenger accounts and human effects

Passenger accounts from the United Airlines flights underline how quickly an ordinary taxi to the runway can turn into something more worrying.

• One traveler said the cabin went quiet after the jolt, as people looked out and saw the damage to the wing.
• Families with children tried to keep them calm, while business travelers opened airline apps to see what connections they had just lost.
• For some, that meant rescheduling consular appointments abroad; for others, it meant informing employers that a start date or key meeting in the United States would now slip.

As the FAA and NTSB move ahead with their inquiries, ground safety at Houston will likely face more attention from both regulators and airlines. The event is a reminder of the operational and human ripple effects that can follow even a low-speed contact on the ground.