JetBlue Airbus A220 hits terminal restaurant window during pushback at Richmond airport

JetBlue crew members stopped further movement immediately after the collision and deplaned all passengers safely. The airline sourced another Airbus A220 to complete service to Boston Logan International Airport. Passengers experienced delays of about five hours due to required safety checks and switching planes.

The jet involved—registration N3257J—is four months old with seating for up to 140 passengers. It uses Pratt & Whitney PW1500G engines.

Regulatory authorities will now review operational procedures following this event. “The FAA will be reviewing JetBlue operations at Richmond Airport as well as general staff procedures to determine what led to this outcome, and the FAA will be diligent in preventing a repeat,” according to information provided in coverage of similar incidents.

Gate collision events occur periodically across U.S. airports, particularly those with older infrastructure or high traffic volumes that limit space for maneuvering large jets (https://www.faa.gov/airports/runway_safety/media/TaxiwayIncursionFactSheet.pdf). For example, Delta Air Lines had an incident in August 2025 when one of its Boeing 757s struck an adjacent Airbus A350-900 during pushback at Atlanta’s airport; similarly, two United Airlines Boeing 737s collided wings during ramp operations at San Francisco International Airport earlier this month (https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/Aviation.aspx).

Although these incidents rarely result in injuries, they cause significant operational disruptions and repair costs for airlines operating in crowded environments.

JetBlue Airways is based primarily out of Boston Logan International Airport but also has hubs at Los Angeles International Airport, New York JFK Airport, Orlando International Airport, and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.