A Delta Connection flight from Jacksonville, Florida, to New York’s La Guardia Airport had a terrifying moment late Sunday evening when its wing struck the runway during landing. The March 16 incident sent sparks flying as the plane attempted to abort its landing, but fortunately all 80 passengers and crew escaped unharmed.
The drama unfolded around 10:10 p.m. EST as Delta Connection Flight 4814, operated by Endeavor Air, approached the busy New York airport. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilots initiated a go-around procedure due to an unstable approach. During this critical maneuver, the aircraft’s left wing made contact with the runway surface.
Air traffic controllers in the tower immediately spotted sparks coming from the wing and urgently radioed the cockpit. “Somebody saw some sparks from one of your wings, you guys feel anything?” asked the controller. The pilots responded they hadn’t noticed anything unusual but would conduct checks. Despite the frightening situation, the crew managed to safely complete the landing on their second attempt.
Following the incident, Delta promptly grounded the Bombardier CRJ-900 regional jet for thorough maintenance inspections. The airline issued a statement confirming the crew followed proper procedures and apologized to passengers for the unsettling experience. No injuries were reported among the 76 passengers and 4 crew members aboard.
This latest incident comes at a sensitive time for Delta, which faces growing scrutiny over its safety record. Just last month, a Delta Boeing 737 skidded off a snow-covered runway in Toronto, flipping onto its roof and catching fire. While all passengers survived that harrowing February incident, 19 people required medical treatment.
Aviation safety experts note that runway contact incidents, while rare, can have catastrophic consequences if not handled properly. The FAA has launched an investigation into Sunday’s event at La Guardia, examining factors like weather conditions, pilot actions and aircraft maintenance records.
Passengers on both recent flights have expressed concerns about Delta’s operations. After the Toronto accident, the airline offered affected travelers $30,000 compensation, though many have since joined lawsuits alleging inadequate pilot training for winter conditions.
For nervous flyers, aviation analysts emphasize that commercial air travel remains extraordinarily safe statistically. They recommend passengers always pay attention to pre-flight safety briefings and know their nearest exits. Meanwhile, Delta faces pressure to reassure the public as investigators work to determine what caused these back-to-back incidents.
The airline has not yet released additional details about Sunday’s runway contact at La Guardia, one of America’s most challenging airports due to its short runways and heavy traffic. As the investigation continues, all eyes remain on Delta’s next steps to address these safety concerns.
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