Southwest Airlines plane has 'chunk' of wing tip torn off as Boeing 737s collide

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Passengers alerted cabin crew after the two planes collided in Oakland
One plane had just pushed back from the gate, the other had just landed
Both aircraft were taken out of service and will undergo repairs

Published: 07:11 EDT, 31 August 2015 | Updated: 07:19 EDT, 31 August 2015

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A flight carrying dozens of passengers had to be cancelled moments before take-off after two Southwest Airlines planes clipped wings at an airport in Northern California.

The collision occurred as one of the Boeing 737s was pushing back from the gate and the other was taxiing to the terminal after landing at Oakland International Airport.

Shocked passengers on board the outbound flight alerted cabin crew after the plane lost a ‘chunk’ of one of its wing tips, said one of the travellers.

Passengers alerted flight attendants after the plane had lost a 'chunk' of one of its wing tips

Passenger Manas Gowd, who was flying to John Wayne Airport, in Santa Ana, California, told MailOnline Travel: ‘My plane clipped the plane to our left and ended up sustaining significant damage to the wingtip face.

‘The other plane was inbound and taxiing to offload its passengers at the next gate.

‘I watched the clipping occur as I was looking out the window, and when our plane lurched back from the gate we felt a very unnatural thump.’

He added: ‘We quickly realised that a chunk of the plane wing had broken off and fallen to the tarmac. We flagged down a stewardess quickly and brought the matter to her attention as we had yet to stop moving backwards.’

Passengers disembarked after the plane pulled up to the gate, and they were soon informed last night's flight was cancelled.

Mr Gowd said: ‘We were first told that there was a plane waiting for us at an adjacent gate. Once we got there, we were told that there was no plane and that we were to go to the check-in counter for further information. After about two hours, I got a future travel voucher and a flight ticket for tomorrow.’

Passenger Manas Gowd said he was given a future travel voucher and a flight ticket for the following day

A Southwest Airlines spokesperson said no one was injured.

The spokesperson added: ‘The wing on Southwest Airlines aircraft operating flight number 280 came into contact with the wing of another Southwest aircraft, while pushing back from the gate at Oakland Airport.

‘Both planes were taken out of service and will undergo a maintenance check.

‘Safety is always our number one focus and we are conducting an internal review to identify details surrounding today's event. Our employees are working as quickly as possible to re-accommodate all customers.’