A Delta Air Lines passenger jet made contact with an Air Canada aircraft on the tarmac at Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. The Air Canada plane had arrived from Toronto and was being towed toward its gate when the incident occurred. Delta Flight 7, scheduled to fly to Tokyo with 275 passengers and 15 crew members, struck the other aircraft with its left wingtip. No injuries were initially reported, while both airlines assessed the aircraft and passenger travel plans.
| 1) | Contact between the two aircraft |
| 2) | Flights and aircraft involved |
| 3) | Damage checks and passenger arrangements |
| 4) | Investigation and operational response |
| 5) | Context from a previous airport collision |
Contact between the two aircraft
The contact took place on the Los Angeles airport tarmac shortly after the Air Canada flight landed on Tuesday. The Air Canada aircraft was being towed to its arrival gate when the Delta aircraft made contact with it. Delta said its jet was taxiing at the airport when the incident occurred.
The immediate reports indicated that there were no injuries. The circumstances surrounding the aircraft movements, including the towing operation and the Delta jet’s taxiing path, are expected to be examined as officials and airline teams review what happened.
Flights and aircraft involved
The Delta aircraft was Flight 7, a passenger service scheduled to depart for Tokyo. It was carrying 275 passengers and 15 crew members. Delta identified the aircraft as an Airbus A350-900.
The Air Canada aircraft was operating Flight AC785 from Toronto to Los Angeles. Air Canada said the plane had completed its arrival and was being moved to the gate when an aircraft operated by another airline made contact with its tail. Delta said its aircraft struck the Air Canada plane with its left wingtip. The differing descriptions identify the aircraft areas involved but do not provide a complete account of the sequence of contact.
Damage checks and passenger arrangements
Air Canada said its aircraft would be removed from service for inspection and repairs. Video posted online showed visible damage on the aircraft, including a gash reported on one of its wings. The airline did not report any injuries connected with the incident.
Delta maintenance crews and airport teams were assessing the Airbus A350-900. Delta said it was working to accommodate the passengers and evaluating recovery options, meaning arrangements for continuing or rescheduling their journey to Tokyo. The airline also apologized for the experience and the resulting travel delay.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people, and we apologize to our customers for the experience and delay in their travel,” Delta said in a statement.
Investigation and operational response
The airlines were handling the immediate safety and aircraft inspection work at Los Angeles International Airport. Delta said it would cooperate with the National Transportation Safety Board, which is expected to investigate the incident. The available information did not identify a cause or assign responsibility.
The investigation will examine the movements of both aircraft, the towing operation, the taxiing activity and the damage sustained. Airline maintenance personnel must determine whether the aircraft can return to service after inspection and repairs. In the meantime, passengers affected by the Delta flight were subject to possible delays or revised travel arrangements.
Context from a previous airport collision
The incident occurred months after a separate collision involving a regional Air Canada aircraft and a Port Authority airport vehicle at LaGuardia Airport in New York City. That March collision destroyed the front of the aircraft and resulted in the deaths of two pilots, with dozens of people injured.
The LaGuardia event was separate from the Los Angeles incident. In Los Angeles, the initial reports described contact between two passenger aircraft on the ground, with no injuries reported. The earlier collision provides context for continued attention to airport surface movements, but it does not establish a connection between the two events.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Delta Flight 7 contacted an Air Canada aircraft at Los Angeles International Airport. |
| 2 | The Air Canada plane had arrived from Toronto and was being towed to its gate. |
| 3 | No injuries were initially reported. |
| 4 | Both airlines were assessing the aircraft, while Delta reviewed passenger recovery options. |
Summary
A Delta passenger jet and an Air Canada aircraft made contact on the ground at Los Angeles International Airport after the Air Canada plane arrived from Toronto and was being towed to its gate. The Delta flight was bound for Tokyo and carried 290 people in total. No injuries were initially reported, but the Air Canada aircraft was removed from service for inspection and repairs, and Delta passengers faced possible travel disruption. The National Transportation Safety Board is expected to investigate the incident.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at Los Angeles International Airport?
A Delta Air Lines passenger jet made contact with an Air Canada aircraft on the tarmac. The Air Canada plane was being towed to its gate after arriving from Toronto.
Were there any injuries?
No injuries were initially reported by either airline in the available account.
What happened to the aircraft?
Air Canada said its aircraft would be taken out of service for inspection and repairs. Delta maintenance crews and airport teams were assessing the Airbus A350-900, while the airline evaluated travel recovery options for its passengers.
