Video footage of superjumbo pranging a passenger jet at JFK
An investigation has begun into how an Air France A380 crashed into a smaller plane at JFK airport, New York.
The superjumbo, the world’s largest jetliner, clipped the tail section of the Bombardier CRJ jet as it taxied to its gate. The Delta Comair plane was spun 90 degrees on the tarmac as a result of the collision.
The incident was captured on video by a passenger on another flight at JFK Airport in New York.
None of the 520 people on the A380 or the 62 on the Bombardier plane were hurt.
Eye witnesses said they saw damage to one of the wings of the A380 which has been taken in for inspection. The passengers were re-routed, and an investigation launched.
Air France flies five times a day to New York including one flight using the Airbus double-decker.
An Air France spokesman said: “Air France confirms an A380 operating flight 007 on April 11 between JFK and Paris-Charles de Gaulle, with 495 passengers and 25 crew on board, struck with its left wing the tail of a Comair CRJ-700 which was parking at JFK.”
“This collision caused only material damage. The two aircraft have been immobilised and the passengers were given accommodation or placed on (other) flights.”
Air France operates four Airbus superjumbos in its fleet. It is due to take delivery of two more A380s in coming weeks and plans to add Washington, Montreal and San Francisco to its A380 network that includes New York, Tokyo and Johannesburg.
In November Qantas grounded its entire fleet after one of the planes had to make an emergency landing when part of one of its engines disintegrated over Indonesia.