A Delta Air Lines flight carrying 76 passengers experienced a concerning incident during its landing attempt at LaGuardia Airport in New York.
According to Fox News, Endeavor Air Flight 4814's left wing struck the runway while executing a go-around maneuver due to an unstable approach around 10 p.m. on Sunday.
The flight, operated by Delta's subsidiary Endeavor Air, was arriving from Jacksonville, Florida when the incident occurred. Port Authority officials confirmed that despite the wing strike, there were no injuries reported among the 76 passengers and four crew members aboard the aircraft. The incident did not disrupt airport operations.
Delta's Response to Emergency Landing Protocol
The airline followed standard safety procedures during the incident. A Delta spokesperson emphasized that the flight crew adhered to established protocols when initiating the go-around maneuver. The FAA explained that a go-around is a routine safety measure that pilots or air traffic controllers can request when landing conditions are not optimal.
The aircraft remained grounded at LaGuardia Airport the following day for inspection and assessment. Delta issued an apology to affected passengers, acknowledging the unsettling experience during the landing attempt. The incident adds to a series of aviation challenges faced by the carrier in recent months.
The FAA has launched a preliminary investigation into the circumstances surrounding the wing strike. Safety officials will examine factors that contributed to the unstable approach and subsequent go-around maneuvers.
Recent Aviation Incidents Raise Safety Questions
Delta CEO Ed Bastian addressed broader aviation safety concerns in a recent CBS Mornings interview. He responded to criticisms about the impact of Trump administration budget cuts on aviation safety measures.
Bastian stated:
I understand that the cuts at this time are something that are raising questions, but the reality is there's over 50,000 people that work at the FAA. And the cuts, I understand, were 300 people, and they were in non-critical safety functions.
The CEO further defended the administration's commitment to aviation safety, highlighting planned investments in air traffic control modernization and additional personnel hiring.
Global Aviation Safety Concerns Mount
The LaGuardia incident occurs amid a series of significant aviation accidents worldwide. Recent months have seen several major incidents, including a Jeju Air crash in South Korea that claimed 179 lives and an Azerbaijan Airlines accident resulting in 38 fatalities and 29 injuries.
North American aviation has faced its own challenges. A tragic collision between a military Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines commercial flight near Washington, D.C. resulted in 67 deaths in January. The following month, a commuter plane crash off Alaska's coast claimed 10 lives.
These incidents have intensified scrutiny of aviation safety protocols and regulatory oversight across the industry. Aviation authorities continue to investigate each incident to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Moving Forward After Aviation Incident
Endeavor Air Flight 4814's wing strike incident at LaGuardia Airport highlighted the importance of emergency protocols and quick decision-making in aviation safety. The incident involved a Delta subsidiary aircraft carrying 76 passengers and four crew members, which experienced a wing strike during an attempted landing from Jacksonville to New York. While the event resulted in no injuries or operational disruptions, it has prompted an FAA investigation and renewed focus on aviation safety measures amid a series of recent global aviation accidents.
