An American Airlines plane was hit by a garbage truck while passengers were waiting to take off in North Carolina.
The plane had to be delayed after the vehicle suddenly rolled back at Piedmont Triad International Airport Friday morning while boarding was taking place.
The collision caused the plane to shake and a piece of the garbage truck became lodged in the plane’s wing, which suffered significant damage.
Passengers were forced to get off the plane and return to the airport.
The flight, which was headed to Dallas, was delayed for several hours.
“We had just boarded when we felt a very strong shake for several seconds and then another,” said passenger Joni Crofoot. WFMY 2 News.
An American Airlines plane was hit by a garbage truck while passengers were waiting to take off in North Carolina.
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Footage from the scene shows airport staff and police surrounding the green garbage truck after the incident.
A part of the truck, operated by a contractor, became stuck in the left wing of the plane and caused extensive damage.
The incident occurred as passengers were boarding the flight to Dallas and caused the plane to shake.
Basketball coach Steve Forbes was on board and said it felt like an earthquake at that moment.
‘Here’s a new one for those of us who travel by plane,’ he wrote on X.
‘Sitting on the plane in Greensboro getting ready to leave. The plane begins to shake violently. Is it an earthquake?!?! No, just a garbage truck hit the plane.
The plane had to be delayed after the vehicle suddenly reversed at Piedmont Triad International Airport Friday morning while boarding was taking place.
The collision caused the plane to shake and a piece of the garbage truck became lodged in the plane’s wing, which suffered significant damage.
They were forced to abandon the plane and wait for more information about their flight, which was delayed for several hours.
They were forced to abandon the plane and wait for more information about their flight, which was delayed for several hours.
Passengers were seen at the gate and some waited around the American Airlines kiosk to find out what was happening.
No injuries were reported on the flight that was supposed to accommodate 143 customers and six crew members.
The flight to Dallas was scheduled for Friday afternoon on a different plane.
An American Airlines spokesperson said: “During boarding American Airlines Flight 1716 from Greensboro, North Carolina (GSO) to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), a vehicle made contact with the wing of the aircraft.
‘All customers and crew members on board disembarked and returned to the terminal, and the aircraft was taken out of service for maintenance.
“We thank our team members for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for the inconvenience.”
DailyMail.com has contacted American Airlines for further comment.
