Airbus A330 and Boeing 777 accident near New York, New York, June 18, 2022
On June 18, 2022 at about 2:30 am local time, 2 aircraft, Airbus A330 (EIEJL) and Boeing 777 (FGSPQ), were involved in the same accident near New York, New York (John F Kennedy International airport). The NTSB record does not give the injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The ITA Airways flightcrew’s misperception of the distance to maintain separation and safely pass the stopped Air France airplane.
The ITA Airways flightcrew’s misperception of the distance to maintain separation and safely pass the stopped Air France airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 2022 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- New York, New York · John F Kennedy International · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- The NTSB record does not give the injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Airbus A330 202 · all A330s on the register
- Registration
- EIEJL · no longer on the register · serial 1283
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · foreign airline rules (Part 129)
- Aircraft 2
- Boeing 777 200ER, built 2001 · all 777s on the register
- Registration
- FGSPQ · no longer on the register · serial 28682
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · foreign airline rules (Part 129)
The NTSB's narrative for the Airbus A330 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight crew of F-GSPQ, an Air France B777-200ER, operating as Air France flight 008, had stopped with the parking brake set while waiting for the gate personnel to finish preparing gate 9 to receive their flight at Terminal 1, at John F. Kennedy International Airport (KJFK), when their airplane was struck by an ITA Airways A330-202 that was taxiing past. The Boeing 777 airplane received substantial damage to the right-hand elevator. The Airbus airplane only received scratches on the left winglet. The Air France crew said that their company procedure to enter gate 9 is to stop and wait for a tow. There were no ground marshalling crew present when they arrived, so they stopped, shut down the engines, and waited about 10 to 15 minutes for a tow to arrive. About the time the tug arrived, the crew said they felt the airplane move due to a “hard connection”, but they were unaware of an airplane passing behind at that time. After the airplane was parked at the gate and passengers had disembarked, maintenance informed the flight crew of damage to the elevator, and it was determined to be from the ITA Airways A330 that had passed behind. The Air France flight crew said they tried to contact the Air Traffic Control Tower to stop the ITA Airways flight, but the conversation was lengthy, and the ITA Airways flight 611 took off without receiving timely notification of the collision. The ITA Airways crew said they noted an Air France Boeing 777 entering at gate 9, a safe distance away, where it stopped awaiting a tow to parking. The ITA Airways crew further stated that after engine start, they were cleared to taxi via Taxiway N, Taxiway B, Taxiway G, cross runway 22L, and via taxiway Z to join the queue for takeoff on runway 31L. They said that during the taxi at no time was there any indication that they had impacted an airplane. After takeoff, while climbing out at 3,000 feet, the ITA Airways crew received a radio call from JFK Tower asking if they had impacted an airplane, and if they had any damage. The crew said they then conducted visual, and systems checks, and checked with the cabin crew. No abnormalities were observed. Upon reaching FL300 the ITA Airways flight crew said they received a second radio call from Air Traffic Control. After contacting their company, and having ruled out any problems with the airplane, a decision was made for the ITA Airways flight to continue to Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport (FCO). After an uneventful flight and landing, an inspection revealed a longitudinal abrasion throughout its length on the upper part of the left winglet consistent with the winglet contacting an object.
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 777 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight crew of F-GSPQ, an Air France B777-200ER, operating as Air France flight 008, had stopped with the parking brake set while waiting for the gate personnel to finish preparing gate 9 to receive their flight at Terminal 1, at John F. Kennedy International Airport (KJFK), when their airplane was struck by an ITA Airways A330-202 that was taxiing past. The Boeing 777 airplane received substantial damage to the right-hand elevator. The Airbus airplane only received scratches on the left winglet. The Air France crew said that their company procedure to enter gate 9 is to stop and wait for a tow. There were no ground marshalling crew present when they arrived, so they stopped, shut down the engines, and waited about 10 to 15 minutes for a tow to arrive. About the time the tug arrived, the crew said they felt the airplane move due to a “hard connection”, but they were unaware of an airplane passing behind at that time. After the airplane was parked at the gate and passengers had disembarked, maintenance informed the flight crew of damage to the elevator, and it was determined to be from the ITA Airways A330 that had passed behind. The Air France flight crew said they tried to contact the Air Traffic Control Tower to stop the ITA Airways flight, but the conversation was lengthy, and the ITA Airways flight 611 took off without receiving timely notification of the collision. The ITA Airways crew said they noted an Air France Boeing 777 entering at gate 9, a safe distance away, where it stopped awaiting a tow to parking. The ITA Airways crew further stated that after engine start, they were cleared to taxi via Taxiway N, Taxiway B, Taxiway G, cross runway 22L, and via taxiway Z to join the queue for takeoff on runway 31L. They said that during the taxi at no time was there any indication that they had impacted an airplane. After takeoff, while climbing out at 3,000 feet, the ITA Airways crew received a radio call from JFK Tower asking if they had impacted an airplane, and if they had any damage. The crew said they then conducted visual, and systems checks, and checked with the cabin crew. No abnormalities were observed. Upon reaching FL300 the ITA Airways flight crew said they received a second radio call from Air Traffic Control. After contacting their company, and having ruled out any problems with the airplane, a decision was made for the ITA Airways flight to continue to Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport (FCO). After an uneventful flight and landing, an inspection revealed a longitudinal abrasion throughout its length on the upper part of the left winglet consistent with the winglet contacting an object.
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 Airbus A330 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
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusion › Situational awareness › Flight crew
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 21,700 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 168 in the last 90 days; 95 in the last 30 days; 15,200 as pilot in command; 2,500 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 1, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,927 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 84 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 30, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 41,029 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 17, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 507,063 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: General Electric CF6-80E (turbofan); 33,255 hours total
- Engine 2: General Electric CF6-80E (turbofan); 69,450 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KJFK New York NY at 1:39 am
- Destination: LIRF Fiumicino OF
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 330° at 12 knots
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
The factual record for the Boeing 777 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) shutdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incomplete action › Flight crew
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,274 hours in all; 781 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,406 hours in all; 2,429 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: General Electric GE90-94B (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: General Electric GE90-94B (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air France
The flight
- Departed from: LFPG Paris OF at 5:32 am
- Flight plan: VFR then IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on April 20, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 for Ita Airways A330 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos No. 1 - Ita Airways A330 Lh Wingtip Damage. | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 2 - Fig 2. Air France Rh Elevator Damage. Source-air France | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Video File - Jfk Ground Control | audio | View Download |
| 6 | Video File - Jfk Local Control | audio | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.