Two United Airlines 737s Collide in Houston, Winglet Torn Off in Pushback

Two United Airlines Boeing 737-900ER aircraft collided during ground operations at Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport on Tuesday evening, November 25, causing significant winglet damage and lengthy delays for passengers traveling to Cleveland and Orlando.

The incident occurred at about 4:30 p.m. local time when United flight UA544, scheduled for Cleveland, made contact with United flight UA2541, bound for Orlando. The wingtips struck during pushback, tearing off the tip of one aircraft’s winglet and prompting both jets to be taken out of service for safety inspections. Passengers on both flights were asked to deplane while replacement aircraft were sourced.

Ground Handling Error Blamed for Collision

United Airlines said the collision resulted from a separation error by the ground crew during pushback. According to early reports, UA2541 was being pushed straight backward while the crew handling UA544 began turning the aircraft onto a taxiway. The right winglet of UA2541 struck the left winglet of UA544 during the turn.

The impact occurred at very low speed with both aircraft engines off, meaning the ground crew was fully responsible for maneuvering the jets safely. The airline confirmed that the incident happened during routine pushback procedures.

No Injuries Reported, Passengers Reaccommodated, Flight Operations Resume with Delays

UA2541 was carrying 73 passengers and six crew members, while UA544 had 101 passengers and six crew members. No injuries were reported. After returning to their gates, passengers were able to deplane normally and await reassignment.

United quickly arranged replacement Boeing 737-900ERs to reduce disruption, though both flights ultimately departed more than two hours late.

United reassigned aircraft N78438 to operate flight UA544 and aircraft N38459 to operate UA2541. UA544 departed Houston at 9:27 p.m. and arrived in Cleveland at 12:46 a.m., running about two and a half hours behind schedule. UA2541 left Houston at 9:21 p.m. and arrived in Orlando at 12:04 a.m., more than two hours late.

Aircraft Damage and Return to Service

Both aircraft involved sustained damage, though the most visible harm was the torn winglet tip. Aircraft N69806, which lost part of its winglet, has since been repaired and returned to service as of November 21. Aircraft N68843 remains grounded, reportedly awaiting repairs or maintenance capacity, and currently has no scheduled future flights.

Both jets were immediately towed to United’s maintenance hangars for thorough inspections.

Growing Pattern of Ground Incidents

The Houston collision adds to a series of recent ground incidents involving U.S. carriers. In October 2025, a United Boeing 737-700 struck the tail of a parked Boeing 767-300ER while taxiing in Chicago. Earlier that same month, two Delta Connection CRJ-900s collided at New York LaGuardia, injuring a flight attendant. In September 2025, another United Boeing 737 struck the tail of a different 737 during pushback at San Francisco International Airport.

These incidents underscore growing concerns about ramp safety and ground-handling coordination across busy U.S. airports.

Investigation and Safety Measures

United Airlines has opened an internal investigation and is reviewing ground-handling procedures to prevent similar accidents. The Federal Aviation Administration did not launch a formal investigation, classifying the pushback collision as a low-speed event without significant risk to flight operations.

United emphasized that replacement aircraft were promptly arranged to get passengers to their destinations with minimal disruption. However, the incident highlights the complexities of ground operations at major hubs like Houston, where multiple aircraft push back and taxi simultaneously on crowded aprons and parallel taxiways.

Aviation safety experts note that while ground collisions rarely pose immediate danger to passengers, they can cause costly damage, schedule disruptions, and operational risks if standard procedures are not strictly followed.


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