In a significant incident at Madrid-Barajas International Airport, a Ryanair Boeing 737 collided with an Air Europa Boeing 787. The event occurred on November 3, 2023, when both aircraft were proceeding along taxiway A12 for take-off on runway 15R.
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During taxiing, the right wingtip of the Ryanair B737-800, with registration 9H-QCI, hit the Air Europa Boeing 787, registered as EC-NXA. The collision resulted in damage to the winglets of the Ryanair Boeing 737. Following the collision, both aircraft returned to the apron.
The incident affected both flights. The Ryanair flight to Bologna was delayed by over five hours, and the Air Europa flight UX83 to Salvador, Brazil, was rescheduled to depart at 21:30 local time, about eight hours later than originally planned.
The incident raises serious concerns about ground safety procedures at airports. It underscores the need for stringent safety measures and protocols to prevent such incidents, which can potentially lead to significant delays and, more importantly, jeopardize passenger safety. Investigations into the incident are ongoing, and further information is awaited. The incident serves as a reminder of the complexities and challenges of ensuring safety in aviation, even when aircraft are on the ground.
