Two Southwest Airlines Planes Collide, and Passengers Are Unloading About 'Scary' Incident
Another scary incident on the tarmac unfolded this week, and this time it involved two Southwest Airlines planes that collided with each other.
Passengers aren't happy about how it was handled, and they are turning to social media and news outlets to unload. "My flight was delayed like 6 hours and then they hit a PARKED plane trying to leave," a passenger wrote on X, sharing a photo.
The page FL360Aero wrote, "Happening now! A Southwest Boeing B737-8H4 aircraft (N8525S) hit another Southwest B737 aircraft (parked) and clipped its (own) winglet while taxiing at Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport (PVD) moments ago. The aircraft was operating flight SWA3515 from Providence (PVD) to Washington (DCA) with a six-hour delay during the ground incident."
Passengers Say They 'Had to Yell at the Cockpit'
According to WJAR-TV, passengers told NBC 10 "that they had to yell at the cockpit after the plane allegedly collided while taxiing."
Added WJAR: "He later noticed the plane was getting a little close to another, but 'didn't think we would collide.'"
Both planes then returned to their gates, the television station reported. Daily Beast described the collision as "scary" for "panicked" passengers.
Southwest Airlines Confirmed That It Is Investigating the Mishap
Southwest Airlines is investigating the incident, according to The New York Post."We are investigating further and will be thoroughly inspecting the two aircraft," a spokesperson for Southwest told The Post.
"In the meantime, we have reaccommodated the affected Customers. Nothing is more important to Southwest Airlines than the Safety of our Employees and our Customers," the airline added.
Southwest added that it was "aware of an incident involving two of our aircraft" but didn't explain how the incident occurred, The Post reported.
The FAA Says the Southwest Plane 'Made Contact With the Tail' of the Other Aircraft
According to WJAR-TV, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration determined that "the wing of Southwest Airlines Flight 3515 made contact with the tail of Southwest Airlines Flight 3409 as it pushed back onto the taxiway at T.F. Green around 10:45 p.m."
The FAA lists recent aviation incidents on its website. Some other incidents:
- June 11: "A Cirrus SR-20 crashed into a house in Wheelersburg, Ohio, after departing from Greater Portsmouth Regional Airport around 12:30 p.m. local time on Thursday, June 11. Only the pilot was on board." And: "United Airlines Flight 1535 returned safely to Washington Dulles International Airport around 2:05 p.m. local time on Tuesday, June 9, after the pilot reported a nose-gear issue. The Boeing 737-900 was travelling to George Bush Intercontinental/Houston Airport."
- June 9: "A Cub Crafters XCub crashed at Plymouth Municipal Airport in New Hampshire around 4 p.m. local time on Tuesday, June 9. Two people were on board."
- June 4: "A Beechcraft G36 went off the end of the runway and crashed into a fence while attempting to depart Danbury Municipal Airport in Connecticut around 10:20 a.m. local time on Thursday, June 4. Only the pilot was on board."
There have been other incidents recently with Southwest planes. In May, "a Southwest Airlines flight bound for Maryland was forced to divert to Oklahoma after its windshield cracked," Daily Beast reported.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published June 13, 2026 at 11:52 AM.