Earlier this month an ITA Airways Airbus A330-200 hit an Air France Boeing 777 at JFK airport in New York while taxiing for departure.
The A330, which was reportedly unaware that it had hit another aircraft, continued with its take-off and completed its flight to Rome.
The ITA Airways jet was set to take off for flight AZ611 from New York to Rome Fiumicino. As it taxied towards the runway for departure the aircraft clipped the Air France Boeing 777-200.
The crew of the ITA plane were completely unaware of the collision, but the Air France jet urged air traffic control (ATC) to keep the ITA aircraft on the ground.
“This is Air France 008, we are on stand nine and there was an Alitalia passing behind us that hit our aircraft. It’s so you can tell them not to take off.” the Air France pilot said.
But by the time ATC understood the situation, the A330 was already making its way across the Atlantic.
ATC contacted the crew on board the ITA plane but they denied that the plane was involved in any kind of incident.
ATC said: “Another aircraft on the ground currently, Air France, said you hit them or something of that nature while you were taxiing. Did you experience any damage to the aircraft?”
To which an ITA Airways Pilot responded: “Negative, sir.”
Despite this, wing damage was discovered upon landing on the A330.
The severity of the damage has still not been disclosed, but the plane remained in Rome after landing for two days, indicating an easy fix, Simple Flying reported.
Image: iStock/Alvin Man
