Southwest planes clip wings at BWI

Todd Karpovich, The Baltimore Sun on May 7, 2026

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BALTIMORE — Two Southwest Airlines planes clipped wings while pushing back from their gates Monday night at BWI Marshall Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. on the airport ramp, when Southwest flights 1048 and 562 came into contact while preparing for departure, the FAA said.

No injuries were reported.

The FAA said the collision happened in an area of the airport where air traffic controllers do not communicate directly with flight crews. The agency is investigating the incident.

Additional details about the flights, including possible delays or passenger impacts, were not immediately available.

Officials with both the FAA and BWI Marshall Airport referred questions to Southwest Airlines. A spokesperson for the airline was not immediately available for comment Thursday.

The incident comes as the nation’s aviation system continues to face pressure from a longstanding shortage of air traffic controllers. Federal officials have warned that many major facilities remain below recommended staffing levels.

A 2023 report from the Department of Transportation’s inspector general found that 77% of key air traffic control facilities did not meet the FAA’s staffing benchmarks, raising concerns about delays, operational strain and long-term safety.

In its annual workforce plan, the FAA said it expects to hire at least 8,900 new air traffic controllers through 2028, including 2,000 in 2025 and 2,200 in fiscal year 2026.

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