United Airlines Plane Bumps Into Fuel Truck At LaGuardia Airport
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- There's been another mishap at LaGuardia.
For the second time in a week, travel was disrupted after a plane got into the equivalent of a fender bender.
As CBS2's Jessica Moore reported, emergency vehicles swarmed LaGuardia's Terminal 8 around 6:45 a.m. Thursday. A United Airlines plane clipped a fuel truck backing away from the gate, and damaged its right winglet.
"It scares me to death. If you're not already scared of getting on an airplane, that is not good," Leslie Foy said.
Two airplane incidents in three days -- on Tuesday, an American Airlines plane clipped an American Eagle aircraft.
Both cases link back to miscommunication among the ground crew. On Thursday, the plane's tug operator -- a United employee -- who communicates with the pilot, and the driver of the fuel truck -- employed by Allied Aviation.
Gene Theagene is on the ground at LaGuardia.
"Some guys wait for the last minute to clear the site. When you're rushing things, this is when things happen. You don't have time to see the big picture," Theagene said.
United said it is investigating the cause.
Allied and the Port Authority both declined to comment.
As a pilot Art Schlesinger knows attention to detail is crucial on the tarmac.
"Somebody goofed," he said, "I think they have to be more careful. I think what they have to do is make sure they're on the lines, and the people who have the tugs have to know what they're doing."
A United Airlines spokesman told CBS2 the damage to the plane's winglet was relatively minor. The aircraft will remain in maintenance until it is cleared to fly again.
In the meantime passengers were trying to keep their sense of humor.
"That was the accident for the day, so we're done,' Leslie Foy said.
The Port Authority Police Airport Rescue and Firefighting Team responded to both incidents. They are the busiest airport police and fire department in the country.
