Plane with Rep. Nick LaLota, other Congress members bumped by another at D.C. airport

A plane carrying several Congress members, including Long Island's Rep. Nick LaLota, was bumped by another plane’s wing on a taxiway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Thursday.

LaLota (R-Amityville) posted on the social media website X that he was departing from the airport in Arlington, Virginia, on Thursday afternoon when the collision occurred.

LaLota wrote, "Serving in Congress has come with some once in a lifetime experiences ... like just now while stationary on the runway at DCA, another plane just bumped into our wing. Heading back to the gate, but thankfully everyone is O.K.!,"

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the collision. No injuries were reported.

FAA officials said, "The wingtip of American Airlines Flight 5490 struck American Airlines Flight 4522” on a taxiway at about 12:45 p.m. Thursday.

Officials said LaLota and other congressional representatives were traveling on an Embraer E175 heading to Kennedy Airport when it was clipped by a Bombardier CRJ 900 heading to Charleston.

Serving in Congress has come with some once in a lifetime experiences… like just now while stationary on the runway at DCA, another plane just bumped into our wing. Heading back to the gate, but thankfully everyone is ok! (And ⁦@RepGraceMeng⁩ is handing out grapes!) pic.twitter.com/bOo1JNXZDh

— Congressman Nick LaLota (@RepLaLota) April 10, 2025

LaLota's office issued a statement that both planes returned to the terminal for safety inspections. 

"The Congressman is grateful for the swift and professional response by the flight crew, who prioritized the safety and well-being of everyone on board," his office said in a statement. "Congressman LaLota intends to bring this firsthand experience to his work in Congress, advocating for stronger aviation oversight and enhanced public safety to help prevent similar incidents in the future."

LaLota wrote, joked that fellow Rep. Grace Meng was onboard and handing out grapes.

Meng (D-Queens) posted that she was "safely waiting on the tarmac, but we may need more snacks."

"I’m grateful no one was hurt today, but this incident underscores this urgent need to restore all FAA jobs that keep our runways safe," she added.

New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Tenafly) also posted he was on the plane when it was struck, "Thankfully everyone is safe."

"Just a reminder: Recent cuts to the FAA weaken our skies and public safety," Gottheimer said.

The plane was also carrying several other representatives, including New York City Democratic representatives Ritchie Torres, Adriano Espaillat and Gregory Meeks, Meng said in a Zoom interview while waiting to board another flight back to New York.

She said the representatives had just finished votes in the U.S. House of Representatives when they were flying home to their districts. Meng said she was flying home to attend a memorial service for former Rep. Nita Lowey (D-Rye).

"We were sitting on the plane, waiting for takeoff. We suddenly felt some shaking," Meng said. "Other passengers saw the plane clip the plane and a little piece fell off."

She said the crew and passengers remained calm when the plane was struck and were unharmed. 

Meng said she still felt safe flying, but noted concerns about FAA staffing cuts and the January midair collision between an American Airlines jet and a Blackhawk helicopter near Reagan airport that killed 67 people. 

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.