Two United Airlines jets made contact on the ground at San Francisco International Airport on Monday evening, prompting inspections and delays.
San Francisco, September 2, 2025 — United Flight UA1871, scheduled to depart for Denver, was pushing back from its gate when it struck the tail of United Flight UA796, a Boston-bound aircraft that was still parked at its gate (Boeing 737 MAX 9, registration N17594 which was delivered only few months ago).
Both aircraft were returned to the gate area following the collision. Passengers from the two flights were asked to disembark normally, and no injuries were reported.
United Airlines said it is working to re-accommodate affected travelers while maintenance crews assess the extent of the damage to the aircraft involved.
The FAA confirmed it will investigate the incident, which briefly caused operational disruptions during one of the airport’s evening departure banks.
Runway and taxiway collisions are rare but are taken seriously by regulators due to the potential safety risks.
