Key takeaways:

• Two American Airlines planes collided on the taxiway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
• At least seven members of Congress were aboard one of the planes, but no injuries were reported.
• The collision has reignited concerns over aviation safety and staffing shortages at the FAA.

In an alarming incident at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, two American Airlines planes collided on Thursday while taxiing, featuring several members of Congress onboard. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the incident occurred at around 12:45 p.m. EDT, when Flight 5490, a Bombardier CRJ 900 bound for Charleston, South Carolina, clipped the wing of Flight 4522, an Embraer E175 headed for New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Fortunately, there were no injuries reported, a fact acknowledged by congress members on board, including Representatives Josh Gottheimer and Grace Meng. They utilized social media to express their relief while simultaneously advocating for increased FAA funding to mitigate such safety risks. “This close call underscores the urgent need for more FAA funding—people's lives are at stake,” Meeks stated, echoing sentiments regarding the recent cuts that have impacted aviation oversight.

Both flights returned to the terminal after the collision, with officials confirming that damage was limited to the aircraft's winglets. All passengers from both flights, including 76 passengers and four crew on Flight 5490 and 67 passengers and four crew on Flight 4522, were later accommodated on replacement flights.

This incident follows an earlier tragic event at Reagan National Airport, where a collision between a regional jet and a military helicopter resulted in 67 fatalities, intensifying scrutiny over air traffic safety at this busy airport. Recent comments from Senator Mark Warner highlighted the existing staffing shortage, with claims that as many as 3,000 air traffic controllers are currently needed.

Given the frequency of such incidents, including a recent near-miss involving a passenger plane and military jets, the FAA is under renewed pressure to enhance staffing and safety protocols to ensure such dangerous occurrences do not continue. The situation remains dynamic as the FAA conducts an investigation into this latest collision and its implications for air travel safety.

For more details on this incident, visit Al Jazeera.