Key Takeaways
• Two United Airlines Boeing 777s clipped wings during pushback at SFO on May 5, 2025, no injuries reported.
• Both flights, bound for Sydney and Hong Kong, were canceled and 508 passengers safely evacuated and rebooked.
• FAA and NTSB launched investigations into ground operations, communication breakdown, and airport procedures after repeated similar incidents.
Two United Airlines Boeing 777 jets collided while preparing to depart from San Francisco International Airport 🇺🇸 late on May 5, 2025. The incident happened during a routine operation called “pushback,” where aircraft are moved away from their gates before taxiing to the runway. Both planes had just begun their long flights—one to Sydney, Australia 🇦🇺, and the other to Hong Kong 🇭🇰—when disaster was narrowly avoided. Thankfully, everyone on board was unharmed.
This event is raising new questions about the safety of ground operations, communication between ground crews and pilots, and the ongoing efforts to keep airline passengers protected during every part of their journey. Here’s a clear look at what happened, why it matters, and what comes next.
What Actually Happened at San Francisco International Airport?
On Monday night, at around 10:45 PM (with some reports saying it was closer to 12:35 AM on May 6), two United Airlines Boeing 777 planes were getting ready for departure at the international terminal of San Francisco International Airport. Flight UA863 was getting set to take 202 passengers and 16 crew members across the Pacific to Sydney, while Flight UA877 had 306 passengers and 16 crew, waiting to head to Hong Kong.
As UA863 began to push back from its gate, the right wingtip of its huge Boeing 777 scraped and struck the left wingtip of UA877, which was sitting nearby and preparing to depart as well. There were more than 500 people on board both planes—families, business travelers, students, and airline staff—all of whom were startled by the jolt but, thankfully, suffered no injuries. United Airlines staff quickly and safely helped all 508 passengers off both planes.
The airline said it would rebook those affected on later flights. But for many travelers who may have been looking forward to a special trip or an important meeting overseas, this was an unexpected and stressful disruption.
How Did This Collision Occur?
Airline accidents on the ground, such as two planes clipping wings, rarely cause injuries or major damage, but they can easily disrupt travel and reveal problems in airport procedures. In this case, it happened in a part of the airport where air traffic controllers—those workers in the tall glass towers who guide planes in and out—do not directly talk to pilots during pushback. Instead, ground crews are in charge, guiding the heavy jets with hand signals, headsets, and flashes of light.
According to recorded air traffic control communications, a ramp controller told the pilot of Flight 863 that they were “pushing pretty deep,” meaning the plane was being pushed a long way out of its parking spot. The controller also asked the pilot to check with the crew handling the other plane, to make sure they were aware of what was happening.
Despite this warning, the two Boeing 777s clipped wings, badly scraping and bending the tips. Both jets had to cancel their flights for safety checks and repairs. Emergency crews made their way onto the tarmac soon after, inspecting the damaged wingtips and cordoning off the area.
Immediate Response and Safety Measures
United Airlines quickly grounded both Boeing 777 aircraft—identified as registration numbers N2645U and N2747U—so maintenance teams could look for hidden damage. The airline put out a statement reassuring the public that passenger safety is its top priority, and that it is working fully with both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) while they start separate investigations.
It’s important to remember that airlines and airports follow strict safety rules whenever there is any kind of aircraft accident, no matter how minor. Both federal agencies will look closely at ground handling procedures and see if there were any gaps in communication that could have led to the crash. They will also examine whether pilots, ground crews, or controllers followed official protocols.
For those passengers on the affected flights, United Airlines staff worked to book new travel and provided hotels or meal vouchers as needed. No information was provided about extra compensation for missed connections or business disruptions yet.
Pattern of Similar Incidents
This was not an isolated event for United Airlines or even for San Francisco International Airport. Only a month earlier, two American Airlines planes also clipped wings while preparing to take off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C. A similar ground mishap involving two United Airlines jets had also happened at SFO the previous April.
Each of these events has ended without serious injury. But repeated occurrences highlight growing concerns among the traveling public. Questions are being asked about whether ground operations at busy airports are safe enough, and if changes are needed to keep flights running smoothly.
There have also been several other problems in recent years that make travelers uneasy—such as emergency landings, tire blowouts, or sudden mechanical problems forcing pilots to return to the airport. Every time something like this happens, experienced and first-time fliers alike wonder if airline safety rules are being followed closely.
Why Ground Operations at Large Airports Matter
Busy airports like San Francisco International Airport handle hundreds of flights and thousands of passengers each day. Large jets like the Boeing 777 are about as long as a city block and have wingspans wider than the height of many buildings. When two of these planes are parked close together, every step—especially moving them in and out of tight gates—has to be carefully planned and clearly communicated.
- Pushback process: Moving a plane away from the gate usually involves a special vehicle, called a tug, and ground crew with radios and flashing vests. Pilots follow ground crew signals in areas where radio contact with air traffic control is limited.
- Limited visibility: From the cockpit, pilots cannot always see the wingtips or tails, so they rely heavily on ground staff.
- Ramp controllers: These officials manage planes’ movement on the ground, but their communication must be crystal clear to everyone involved.
If one part of the team fails to notice a risk—like another jet being pushed back into a busy path—a collision can happen even at low speeds.
What Will Investigators Look For?
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have standard procedures for examining any accident involving commercial airplanes. According to VisaVerge.com’s investigation, both agencies look for answers to key questions, including:
- Did ground crew clearly communicate with both pilots?
- Was the pushback coordinated properly so both jets would not cross paths?
- Were visibility and lighting conditions at the time of the incident good enough to ensure safety?
- Did any mechanical problem with the tugs, radios, or other equipment play a part?
- Were the planes parked too close together, making it hard for ground staff to move jets safely?
By closely reviewing video footage, radio logs, and first-hand reports from pilots and ground crew, authorities try to learn exactly what happened. The final reports often include suggestions to fix problems so similar accidents are less likely to happen in the future.
How Are Passengers and Airlines Affected?
When an incident like this happens, the most direct effect is on passengers: flights get canceled, connections are missed, and trips are delayed. For this particular incident, United Airlines had to help over 500 travelers find new routes. Some probably waited hours for another available seat, and those with time-sensitive plans might have faced big disruptions.
For United Airlines, such incidents can damage its reputation for safety and dependability, even if no one is hurt. Each time a Boeing 777 is damaged, the plane could be out of service for days or even weeks for repairs and inspections. This costs airlines money and can reduce the number of seats available on popular long routes.
At the same time, airports like San Francisco International Airport are under pressure to show that they can keep flights running smoothly and safely, even when schedules are tight. Airlines, too, must show regulators that their staff and systems are working properly during tricky operations like pushback.
What About the Broader Impact on Airline Safety?
While flying remains one of the safest ways to travel, ground incidents remind everyone that much can go wrong in the busy world of modern aviation. A modern Boeing 777 is packed with advanced technology and built to withstand strong forces, but it is still vulnerable if mistakes are made during ground operations. The FAA and NTSB have the power to order changes to procedures or even alter how airports assign gates and parking spots to avoid future problems.
For travelers, these incidents can cause stress and anxiety—even if the odds of being hurt remain very low. Some may now choose airlines or airports based on their safety records, and many will watch closely to see how United Airlines and San Francisco International Airport respond to make ground operations safer.
The Importance of Clear Procedures and Teamwork
Keeping passengers safe on the ground requires seamless teamwork between pilots, ramp controllers, ground staff, and air traffic control. United Airlines and its competitors train crew regularly to avoid these sorts of problems, but even with training, errors can happen in a busy environment.
When planes as large as the Boeing 777 need to move in close quarters, everyone must follow set procedures exactly and speak up if something feels wrong. Updating technology—such as having more cameras around gates or better lighting—can also help everyone see potential risks sooner.
If investigations show that confusion or a lack of clear direction played a role in this accident at San Francisco International Airport, regulators may require new training or tighter rules ahead of every pushback.
What Happens Next?
Full investigations by the FAA and the NTSB often take weeks or months. They will review all photos and video from the scene, check weather reports, and interview those involved. Investigators will focus on ways to make pushback safer, looking for any blind spots in communication or safety checks that need fixing.
Meanwhile, United Airlines will continue inspecting both damaged Boeing 777 planes before putting them back into service. The airline is required to follow strict maintenance procedures, and the FAA must approve repairs before passengers board again.
For travelers, airport safety rules and policies are detailed on the FAA’s official website, which lists steps both airlines and airports take to keep people safe on planes and while moving on the ground.
Looking Ahead: Will Things Change at Airports Like SFO?
San Francisco International Airport is always working to improve safety for everyone using its gates and runways. With repeated occurrences, it is likely that both airport authorities and airlines will review how planes are spaced during busy periods and may introduce new checks before any pushback from crowded gates.
United Airlines, too, must show it is using best practices to make sure this kind of collision does not happen again. This could include more frequent safety training for ground crews, regular updates for pilots about recent incident trends, or changes to how parking assignments are made for wide-body jets like the Boeing 777.
Travelers can be reassured that strict rules are in place—and enforced— to keep dangerous incidents rare. But incidents like these serve as a reminder: In the world’s busiest airports, safety depends on every worker and system doing their part.
Final Thoughts
While nobody was hurt when the two United Airlines Boeing 777 jets clipped wings at San Francisco International Airport, the incident highlights just how much attention to detail is needed every day in the flying world. For the more than 500 passengers affected, the disruption was real, but the lack of injuries shows that existing safety systems work under stress.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, airlines and airports are taking the event seriously and cooperating fully with authorities. Passengers can expect regular updates from United Airlines as they work to avoid any repeat incidents. The lengthy investigations now underway will likely shape airline safety rules and training at San Francisco International Airport and beyond.
For those interested in the rules and guidelines that keep air travel safe, visiting the FAA’s official page is a good way to learn more about ongoing efforts to protect passengers on every leg of their trip. With each incident closely studied, airlines like United Airlines and busy hubs like San Francisco International Airport strive to make air travel not just more efficient but, most importantly, safer for everyone.
Learn Today
Pushback → An airport maneuver where a plane is moved backward from its gate by a tug before taxiing to the runway.
Ramp Controller → Personnel responsible for coordinating and managing aircraft ground movements in non-taxiway areas of an airport.
FAA → Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. government agency overseeing civil aviation safety, regulations, and airport operations nationwide.
NTSB → National Transportation Safety Board, a U.S. agency investigating transportation accidents, including aviation incidents, to improve safety protocols.
Boeing 777 → A large, twin-engine, long-haul commercial aircraft widely used for international flights by major airlines like United Airlines.
This Article in a Nutshell
On May 5, 2025, two United Airlines Boeing 777 jets clipped wings during pushback at San Francisco International Airport. All 508 passengers and crews were unharmed. The incident raised new safety questions about airport ground operations. Federal investigations now focus on communication, procedures, and possible improvements for future prevention.
— By VisaVerge.com
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