Boeing 737 832 and Boeing 757 accident near Queens, New York, August 15, 2017
On August 15, 2017 at about 11:15 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Boeing 737 832 (N377DA) and Boeing 757 (N175AN), were involved in the same accident near Queens, New York (John F Kennedy Intl airport). No one was hurt; 295 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the Delta B737 captain's failure to maintain proper clearance between his airplane and the stopped American B757.
the Delta B737 captain's failure to maintain proper clearance between his airplane and the stopped American B757.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 2017 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Queens, New York · John F Kennedy Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 295 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Boeing 737 832 832, built 1999 · all 737 832s on the register
- Registration
- N377DA · registry record · serial 29625
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
- Aircraft 2
- Boeing 757 223, built 2001 · all 757s on the register
- Registration
- N175AN · no longer on the register · serial 32394
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative for the Boeing 737 832 final · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 15, 2017, at approximately 6:15 PM EDT, American Airlines flight 290, a Boeing B757, N175AN, was stationary awaiting takeoff clearance when it was struck by Delta Air Lines flight 2503, a Boeing B737-800, N377DA, as it was taxiing at John F. Kennedy International Airport (KJFK), Queens, New York. There were no injuries to the 129 passengers and crew onboard the B757, nor to the 166 passengers and crew onboard the B737. The American Airlines B757 sustained substantial damage and the Delta Air Lines B737 sustained minor damage. Both airplanes were operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as regularly scheduled passenger flights. According to flight crew statements, the American Airlines B757 taxied down taxiway C and turned onto taxiway FB where it stopped short of runway 22R and was awaiting takeoff clearance. The Delta B737 followed the American B757 down taxiway C and was then instructed to taxi behind the American B757 and to continue to taxiway E. The Delta captain stated he steered slightly to the right of the taxiway centerline to keep clear of the stopped American B757. He then steered back towards the centerline once he thought his left winglet had cleared the American B757s tail when he felt a bump. After stopping, emergency personnel inspected both airplanes and indicated that Delta's left winglet had contacted the American B757 right horizontal stabilizer, resulting in substantial damage to the elevator. Both aircraft taxied back to their respective gates under their own power and passengers deplaned normally.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Boeing 757 final · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 15, 2017, at approximately 6:15 PM EDT, American Airlines flight 290, a Boeing B757, N175AN, was stationary awaiting takeoff clearance when it was struck by Delta Air Lines flight 2503, a Boeing B737-800, N377DA, as it was taxiing at John F. Kennedy International Airport (KJFK), Queens, New York. There were no injuries to the 129 passengers and crew onboard the B757, nor to the 166 passengers and crew onboard the B737. The American Airlines B757 sustained substantial damage and the Delta Air Lines B737 sustained minor damage. Both airplanes were operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as regularly scheduled passenger flights. According to flight crew statements, the American Airlines B757 taxied down taxiway C and turned onto taxiway FB where it stopped short of runway 22R and was awaiting takeoff clearance. The Delta B737 followed the American B757 down taxiway C and was then instructed to taxi behind the American B757 and to continue to taxiway E. The Delta captain stated he steered slightly to the right of the taxiway centerline to keep clear of the stopped American B757. He then steered back towards the centerline once he thought his left winglet had cleared the American B757s tail when he felt a bump. After stopping, emergency personnel inspected both airplanes and indicated that Delta's left winglet had contacted the American B757 right horizontal stabilizer, resulting in substantial damage to the elevator. Both aircraft taxied back to their respective gates under their own power and passengers deplaned normally.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Boeing 737 832 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,043 hours in all; 2,516 in this make and model; 2,184 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 6, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 755 hours in all; 755 in this make and model; 117 in the last 90 days; 0 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 5, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 57,611.6 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 14, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 174,200 lb
- Seats: 168
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: General Electric CFM56-7B26 (turbofan); 51,292 hours total
- Engine 2: General Electric CFM56-7B26 (turbofan); 52,853 hours total
- Operator: Delta Air Lines
The flight
- Departed from: JFK Queens NY
- Destination: SEA Seattle WA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 4 knots
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 4 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 160 |
The factual record for the Boeing 757 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot of other aircraft
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,161 in this make and model
- Last flight review: March 26, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,255 hours in all; 5,696 in this make and model; 8,801 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 18, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 50,926 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 11, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 228,178 lb
- Seats: 186
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Rolls-Royc RB.211 SERIES (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Rolls-Royc RB.211 SERIES (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: American Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: JFK Queens NY
- Destination: DUB Dublin
- Flight plan: IFR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 6 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 121 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.