San Francisco International Airport saw two unrelated incidents involving United Airlines aircraft within a 24-hour span, according to airline officials and federal regulators.
The first incident occurred Monday night during routine operations. A Denver-bound flight identified as United Airlines Flight 1871 was backing away from its gate when its wing struck the tail of another United plane. The second aircraft, Flight 796, had been parked at an adjacent gate and was scheduled to depart for Boston. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the collision and said both planes were grounded for inspection following the contact.
Neither incident resulted in injuries to passengers or crew, but the episode caused delays as airport ground teams and airline maintenance crews worked to assess the situation. Federal officials noted that an investigation is underway to determine the circumstances leading to the mishap, including possible contributing factors such as ground traffic conditions and communication between crews during pushback procedures.
While such events are rare, they highlight the challenges of maneuvering large commercial aircraft within busy terminals. San Francisco International Airport is one of the nation’s major aviation hubs, serving millions of passengers each year with a high volume of daily departures and arrivals. The FAA routinely reviews incidents of this nature to ensure compliance with safety standards and to recommend any operational adjustments needed to prevent future occurrences.
United Airlines confirmed both flights were delayed, with passengers rebooked on later departures. The airline emphasized its commitment to safety and said the aircraft involved will remain out of service until maintenance checks are complete and federal regulators authorize them to return to flight operations.
This is the second reported incident involving United at the airport in less than a day, though officials stressed that the two cases are unrelated. The FAA continues to monitor both situations as part of its ongoing oversight of airline operations at major airports across the country.