On the evening of Sunday, March 16, 2025, a Delta Air Lines flight encountered a startling incident at LaGuardia Airport in New York City. The aircraft, a CRJ-900 operated by Delta’s subsidiary Endeavor Air, was completing its scheduled journey from Jacksonville, Florida when its left wing struck the runway during an attempted landing. The event unfolded around 10:10 p.m., as reported by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which has since launched an investigation to determine the precise circumstances surrounding the mishap. Despite the dramatic nature of the incident, all 80 individuals on board—comprising 76 passengers, two pilots, and two flight attendants—emerged unharmed, and the plane eventually landed safely after the initial contact.
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The flight, designated as Endeavor Air Flight 4814, approached LaGuardia when the pilots encountered what the FAA described as an “unstable approach.” This term refers to a situation where the aircraft’s speed, altitude, or alignment with the runway deviates from the optimal parameters for a safe landing. In response, the pilots executed a go-around, a standard and routine maneuver in aviation where the landing is aborted, and the plane climbs back to a higher altitude to reconfigure for another attempt. However, during this maneuver, the left wing of the twin-engine jet made contact with the runway surface, causing sparks that were observed by air traffic controllers or ground personnel. Audio from air traffic control captured the moment when the controller alerted the pilots, stating, “Somebody saw some sparks from one of your wings, you guys feel anything?” The crew, following established procedures, successfully regained control, circled back, and completed a safe landing shortly thereafter.
Delta Air Lines issued a statement acknowledging the incident, emphasizing that the Endeavor Air flight crew adhered to protocol to ensure the aircraft’s safe return to the ground. The airline expressed regret to its customers for the unsettling experience, noting, “The aircraft landed safely and proceeded to its arrival gate. We apologize to our customers for the experience.” The plane, identified as a Bombardier CRJ-900LR with the registration N185GJ, remained at LaGuardia on Monday, March 17, as maintenance teams began evaluating the extent of any damage. According to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees the airport, the incident caused no injuries or disruptions to overall airport operations—a testament to the swift response of both the flight crew and ground staff.
This event marks another challenge for Endeavor Air, which has faced scrutiny in recent months following a separate incident in February 2025, when another of its CRJ-900 aircraft crashed and flipped over during a landing attempt at Toronto Pearson International Airport. While the FAA continues its investigation into the LaGuardia wing strike, preliminary reports suggest that the go-around was a prudent decision, even if its execution led to the unexpected runway contact. The CRJ-900, a 16.8-year-old aircraft powered by GE CF34-8C5 turbofan engines, is part of Endeavor’s extensive fleet, which operates over 900 daily flights across North America. The investigation will likely focus on factors such as weather conditions, runway state, and the precise dynamics of the unstable approach to pinpoint why the wing dipped low enough to graze the pavement. For passengers on Flight 4814, the incident was undoubtedly a tense moment, though the absence of injuries and the successful landing offered a reassuring outcome. LaGuardia, a busy hub situated in Queens near Flushing Bay, has seen its share of aviation incidents over the years, but this event stands out for its rarity—a wing strike during a go-around rather than a typical landing or takeoff mishap. As the FAA delves deeper, the findings may yield insights into improving safety protocols, ensuring that such occurrences remain anomalies in the realm of modern air travel. For now, the aircraft remains grounded, its wing’s brief encounter with the runway a reminder of the fine margins that define aviation safety.