NTSB SAFETY RECOMMENDATION: 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91

The National Transportation Safety Board has opened an investigation into last night’s collision of two jetliners on a taxiway at Boston Logan Airport.

On July 14, 2011, about 7:33 P.M. EDT, a Delta Air Lines B767-300ER, N185DN, operating as Delta flight 266, was taxiing on taxiway B for departure on runway 04 at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), when its left winglet struck the horizontal stabilizer of an Atlantic Southeast Airlines CRJ900, N132EV, operating as ASA flight 4904, which was number three in line on taxiway M waiting for departure on runway 09.

As the B767 approached and passed the intersection with taxiway M, the left winglet of the B767 struck the horizontal tail of the CRJ900. The CRJ900 sustained substantial damage, which included damage to the horizontal tail and vertical tail; the airplane lost fluid in all three hydraulic systems. Parts of the B767 winglet were sheared off and embedded in the tail of the CRJ900. The passengers on the CRJ900 were deplaned on the taxiway, and the B767 taxied back to the terminal.

Flight data recorders from both airplanes are en route to NTSB headquarters. Air Safety Investigator Dan Bower is the Investigator-In-Charge. Parties to the investigation include Delta Air Lines, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Air Line Pilots Association.