Rep. LaLota Onboard When Plane's Wingtip 'Bumped' By Another Aircraft

LONG ISLAND, NY — Rep. Nick LaLota, as well as several other members of Congress, were on a plane at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, DC Thursday when their wingtip got "bumped" by another plane.

On X, LaLota wrote: "Serving in Congress has come with some once-in-a-lifetime experiences . . . like just now, while stationary on the runway at DCA, another plane just bumped into our wing. Heading back to the gate, but thankfully, everyone is ok!"

The FAA said, in a statement to Patch: "The wingtip of American Airlines Flight 5490 struck American Airlines Flight 4522 on a taxiway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport around 12:45 p.m. local time on Thursday, April 10. Flight 5490, a Bombardier CRJ 900, was headed to Charleston International Airport in South Carolina. Flight 4522, an Embraer E175, was headed to JFK International Airport in New York. The FAA will investigate."

All were reportedly fine: LaLota, R-NY, added that Rep. Grace Meng was "handing out grapes." Later in the day, he posted that he was back on the tarmac in a different plane.

LaLota's office also issued a statement: "Yesterday afternoon, while stationary on the runway at Washington National Airport (DCA) for approximately five minutes, the small commercial commuter plane carrying Congressman Nick LaLota was lightly bumped by another aircraft. Congressman LaLota’s flight was headed to JFK, while the other plane was bound for Charleston, South Carolina," the statement said "Following the minor contact, both planes returned to the terminal for standard safety inspections. Congressman LaLota was unharmed, and there were no reported injuries among his fellow passengers."

And, the statement said: "The Congressman is grateful for the swift and professional response by the flight crew, who prioritized the safety and well-being of everyone on board."

In addition to the many New Yorkers aboard, Representatives Gregory Meeks, Grace Meng, Josh Gottheimer, Ritchie Torres, and Adriano Espaillat were also on the flight, LaLotaa's statement read.

"Congressman LaLota intends to bring this firsthand experience to his work in Congress, advocating for stronger aviation oversight and enhanced public safety to help prevent similar incidents in the future," the statement conclude.