Operations at Manchester Airport briefly came to a halt on Thursday morning after two EasyJet planes clipped wings while taxiing for departure. The incident occurred at approximately 06:30 BST, involving aircraft bound for Paris and Gibraltar.
According to an airport spokesperson, the collision took place on the airfield as the planes were maneuvering toward the runway. No injuries were reported, and all passengers were safely disembarked following the incident.
Flights at Manchester Airport were temporarily suspended while safety teams conducted an assessment of the situation. The inspection confirmed that both aircraft had sustained only minor damage. Once safety checks were complete, normal airport operations resumed.
Eyewitnesses described the moment of impact as jarring. Vynisha Chaudhry, a passenger aboard the Gibraltar-bound flight, likened the experience to a road traffic accident.
“We felt the whole plane shudder – it was a massive hit,” she said. “There were a lot of fire engines and safety crews around. We had to stay onboard for a while as inspections were carried out. The atmosphere was generally okay, but some children and their parents became tense before we were allowed to head back to the terminal.”
EasyJet confirmed the incident in a statement, saying:
“EasyJet can confirm that the wing tips of two aircraft came into contact whilst taxiing to the runway at Manchester Airport this morning. The aircraft returned to stand to disembark customers, who have been provided with refreshment vouchers whilst replacement aircraft are arranged to operate the flights. We apologise to customers for the delay to their flights. The safety of our passengers and crew is our highest priority.”
While the delay caused inconvenience to travelers, the swift response from emergency services and airport staff ensured that the situation was managed efficiently. Passengers from both flights are expected to continue their journeys later in the day aboard replacement aircraft.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is expected to review the incident to determine how the two aircraft came into such close proximity on the taxiway. For now, the event serves as a reminder that, while rare, minor ground collisions can occur even in highly regulated aviation environments.
