Wingtip collision between Air France Boeing 767 and KLM 747

Casualties unknown • Houston, TX, US

A taxiing KLM 747 struck the wingtip of a stationary Air France Boeing 767 during ground operations, resulting in minor damage to both aircraft.

What happened

At the runup area for runway 14L, an Air France Boeing 767 was positioned first in the takeoff sequence. The crew of the Air France flight notified air traffic control that they were not ready for departure. Following this report, ATC cleared KLM flight 662, a Boeing 747, to taxi into position and hold for departure on runway 14L.

During the taxi maneuver around the stationary Air France aircraft, the extended right outboard leading edge flap of the KLM 747 made contact with the left wingtip of the Boeing 767. The collision resulted in minor damage to both airplanes.

Airport operations personnel confirmed that no fuel was spilled during the incident. Both aircraft were able to taxi back to their respective gates without further issue. Maintenance personnel for Air France replaced the left wing navigation light assembly on the 767, allowing the aircraft to depart approximately three hours after its originally scheduled departure time. The scheduled departure for KLM flight 662 was 1540.

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1997-04-20 Boeing 747-300 accident near Houston, TX?

A taxiing KLM 747 struck the wingtip of a stationary Air France Boeing 767 during ground operations, resulting in minor damage to both aircraft.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1997-04-20 involved a Boeing 747-300, registration PHBUL, at Houston, TX.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The first officer's failure to maintain clearance while taxiing around a standing airplane.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001208X07702. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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