SAN FRANCISCO— Two United Airlines (UA) flights faced separate disruptions within 24 hours at SFO, officials confirmed.
On Monday night, a Denver-bound United flight clipped another aircraft’s tail while pushing back from the gate. Hours later, a separate flight to Baltimore returned to SFO after a burning odor was detected in the cabin. No injuries were reported in either case.
Photo: Rachel So | FlickrTwo United Airlines Planes Collided at SFO
The first incident involved United Airlines Flight 1871 to Denver (DEN), which struck the tail of Flight UA796 to Boston (BOS) while being pushed back from a gate at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the contact happened in a non-controlled ramp area where air traffic controllers do not guide aircraft movements.
Both planes were taken out of service for inspection, and passengers were safely deplaned before being accommodated on replacement aircraft.
United Airlines (UA) confirmed there were no injuries and normal boarding procedures were followed. The FAA has opened an investigation into the collision.
A few hours later, another United Airlines flight faced a separate issue. Flight 2664 to Baltimore (BWI), a Boeing 737 Max 9, departed SFO at 9:47 a.m. with 164 passengers and eight crew members on board.
Less than an hour into the flight, the aircraft returned to San Francisco after passengers and crew reported a plastic burning smell in the cabin.
United Airlines said the crew decided to return to SFO out of caution. All passengers deplaned safely, and the airline arranged a replacement aircraft for the Baltimore-bound travelers. The source of the burning odor has not been disclosed.
FAA Oversight and Passenger Impact
Neither incident caused injuries, but both resulted in schedule disruptions at one of the busiest airports in the country. The FAA confirmed it will investigate the ground collision involving Flights 1871 and 796.
While uncommon, such back-to-back incidents can create operational challenges for airlines and airports. United emphasized its focus on passenger safety and highlighted that procedures were followed in both cases to ensure travelers were accommodated with minimal disruption.
Photo: By Alan Wilson – Boeing 777-222 'N795UA’ United Airlines, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33925191Similar Incident
Two United Airlines Boeing 777-300ER aircraft collided on May 6, 2025, at approximately 12:35 AM local time at San Francisco International Airport.
The incident involved United Flight UA877, bound for Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), and United Flight UA863, scheduled to depart for Sydney Airport (SYD). Both flights were canceled after the aircraft sustained damage.
Collision During Ground Operations
The collision occurred as UA863 was taxiing from Terminal 2, Gate 6, while UA877 was being pushed back for departure. The right wingtip of UA863 struck the left wingtip of UA877, causing visible damage to both aircraft.
Ground crews were overseeing the movements at the time, as this section of the apron operates without direct air traffic control instructions to flight crews.
United Airlines (UA) confirmed that no injuries occurred among the 202 passengers and 16 crew members on UA863 or the 306 passengers and 16 crew members on UA877. Both aircraft were grounded immediately for inspection and maintenance.
Passenger Impact and Airline Response
United Airlines (UA) promptly deplaned travelers and arranged rebooking for more than 500 affected passengers. Replacement options were provided on alternative United flights and partner carriers to Hong Kong (HKG) and Sydney (SYD).
Inside the terminal, footage captured workers using a hydraulic lift to inspect the damaged wingtips. The airline later confirmed that the damage was repairable, though both aircraft — registrations N2645U and N2747U — remain out of service pending detailed inspections.
FAA and NTSB Investigations
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) were immediately notified of the incident. Investigators are reviewing ground handling protocols, crew communication practices, and ramp coordination procedures.
United Airlines issued a statement stressing passenger safety as its top priority and pledged full cooperation with authorities. The airline is also conducting its own internal review to ensure compliance with safety and ground operations standards.
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