SCHIPHOL - Two KLM aircraft collided on the ground this morning at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. According to the airline, no one was injured in the incident. KLM describes it as a "very exceptional" occurrence.
The incident involved two Boeing 737 aircraft. One aircraft had just landed from Birmingham, while the other was about to depart for Athens. One of the planes was stationary, while the other was moving when the aircraft made contact.
Both aircraft were towed to a hangar for technical inspection following the incident. The exact circumstances are still being investigated. In such cases, authorities typically examine communication between the cockpit and air traffic control, the role of ground personnel, and the precise position of the aircraft on the apron.
Passengers and crew were returned to the gate. All travelers have been rebooked on alternative flights according to KLM.
What does this mean operationally?
While there were no injuries, a ground collision can cause significant material damage, for example to wing tips or fuselage structure. Even limited structural damage can lead to days of technical inspections and delays in fleet planning.
Aviation authorities and KLM are investigating whether this was a so-called ground collision during taxiing or pushback, a category of incident that rarely occurs but receives extra attention at busy hubs like Schiphol.
