What happened
On September 12, 2017, at 13:10 PDT, a United Airlines Boeing 737-924ER, registration N69813, was taxiing for departure on taxiway C at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). During this taxi, the aircraft collided with an Air Canada Boeing 767, registration C-GHOZ, near gate 69B. There were no injuries to the passengers or crew on either flight.
The Boeing 767 was being marshaled into gate 69B, a gate typically used for tow-in operations. The crew had been instructed to stop approximately 15 feet short of the stop line and had shut down their engines while awaiting a tow bar connection. The tail of the Boeing 767 protruded beyond the white ground markings adjacent to taxiway C.
The captain of the N69813 observed the Boeing 767 and steered left of the taxiway centerline to increase separation. The captain requested that the first officer verify the available clearance; however, the first officer was performing FMS entries at the time. The first officer observed the Boeing 767 connected to a tug and estimated there was approximately 5 feet of clearance. The crew noted that the marshallers did not signal any danger.
As the taxi continued, the right winglet of the Boeing 737 struck the right horizontal stabilizer of the Boeing 767. While the flight crew did not feel the impact, air traffic control notified them of the collision. The Boeing 737 sustained minor damage to its right winglet, while the Boeing 767's right horizontal stabilizer sustained substantial damage. Both aircraft were able to deplane passengers normally.