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Two planes in airport collision Two planes in airport collision
(40 minutes later)
Two aircraft have been involved in what has been described as a "minor wingtip collision" at Manchester Airport.Two aircraft have been involved in what has been described as a "minor wingtip collision" at Manchester Airport.
The planes, carrying a combined 287 passengers and crew, touched wings while they were taxiing out to the runway from Terminal One. The planes, carrying a combined 288 passengers and crew, touched wings while they were taxiing out to the runway from Terminal One.
A spokesman for Manchester Airport said no-one on board the aircraft was hurt in the collision.A spokesman for Manchester Airport said no-one on board the aircraft was hurt in the collision.
The airport remained fully operational and there were no delays as a result of the incident, he added.The airport remained fully operational and there were no delays as a result of the incident, he added.
One of the planes involved was a Futura flight bound for Tenerife - a Boeing 737-800 - which was carrying 180 passengers.One of the planes involved was a Futura flight bound for Tenerife - a Boeing 737-800 - which was carrying 180 passengers.
The other, an Airbus A320, was a Lufthansa flight carrying 107 passengers to Frankfurt, Germany. Obviously, if you are about to take a flight it's not something you expect to happen so I'd imagine people are feeling a little bit shook up Russell King, airport spokesman The other, an Airbus A320, was a Lufthansa flight carrying 108 passengers to Frankfurt, Germany.
It slashed the structure and ripped about three to four feet of the fin off of our wing tip Alistair Pearson, Futura passenger
The flights were due to take off five minutes apart at 1315 BST and 1320 BST respectively.The flights were due to take off five minutes apart at 1315 BST and 1320 BST respectively.
Both aircraft were checked over by the fire service as a safety precaution and will later be examined by experts to assess any damage.Both aircraft were checked over by the fire service as a safety precaution and will later be examined by experts to assess any damage.
Airport spokesman Russell King said: "The passengers on board would have felt some kind of bump but it hasn't caused any serious structural damage to the aircraft." Alistair Pearson, an ex-aircraft engineer who was on board the Futura flight, said he became aware something was wrong when the pilot suddenly started braking heavily.
"As he did that we were looking out of the window and our wing fin struck the rear belly of the Lufthansa, in the area under where the tail fin is," said Mr Pearson.
"It slashed the structure and ripped about three to four feet of the fin off of our wing tip."
Asked how the passengers on board reacted, Mr Pearson said there was "surprise and shock", but "no panic at all".
"The feeling was mainly people's disappointment about knowing there was going to be a massive delay to their holidays," he added.
Collision investigation
Airport spokesman Russell King said although passengers probably felt a bump there was no "serious structural damage" to the aircraft.
Mr King said everyone stayed on board while the fire service checked over the planes, and then departed down the steps in the normal way.Mr King said everyone stayed on board while the fire service checked over the planes, and then departed down the steps in the normal way.
"Obviously, if you are about to take a flight it's not something you expect to happen so I'd imagine people are feeling a little bit shook up," he added."Obviously, if you are about to take a flight it's not something you expect to happen so I'd imagine people are feeling a little bit shook up," he added.
Passengers were taken back to the terminal and are likely to complete their onward journeys later on Tuesday.Passengers were taken back to the terminal and are likely to complete their onward journeys later on Tuesday.
An investigation into the incident will be carried out. An investigation into the incident will be carried out by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.


Were you on board either of the planes? Were you at Manchester airport when the collision happened? Send us your comments using the form below.Were you on board either of the planes? Were you at Manchester airport when the collision happened? Send us your comments using the form below.
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