Delta investigates minor accident involving two planes on the ground

Two planes heading onto the runway bumped on Wednesday night at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

Airport spokesperson Pat Hogan said there were no injuries, although both planes sustained minor damage and returned to the hangars. Delta Airlines said in a statement that passengers were diverted to other flights later in the evening.

The accident involved a Delta Boeing 757 heading to Los Angeles and Compass Embraer departing for Louisville, Kentucky, at about 8:30 p.m.

A Delta spokesperson said both planes were headed to the runway when the 757's right wing hit the Embraer's left wing. The airline spokesperson said that "technicians are examining both aircraft while Delta begins an investigation into the episode."

Hogan said accidents on the runway are relatively rare at the Twin Cities airport. He said there are many factors that could have caused the accident.

"Air traffic control does direct the traffic on the ground, of course your pilot is the one sitting in the cockpit," Hogan said. "Depending on whether the plane was pushed back or was under its own control, you would also possibly have the driver of the cart that's pushing back the plane that could also be involved."

A spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board said the agency is aware of the accident, but hasn't yet opened an investigation into the incident.

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