Raleigh, United States: Two Boeing 737 aircraft operated by Avelo Airlines and Southwest Airlines were involved in a minor ground collision at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) on Thursday, January 1, 2026, airport and airline officials confirmed.
The incident occurred on the airport apron while an Avelo Airlines Boeing 737-700 was being towed to a gate. During the repositioning maneuver, the Avelo aircraft’s wing made contact with a parked Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8, resulting in minor damage to both aircraft.
Officials confirmed that no passengers or crew were on board either aircraft at the time of the incident. There were no injuries reported, and the collision did not pose any immediate safety risk.
Southwest Airlines stated that its aircraft was undergoing a maintenance inspection following the incident and emphasized that safety remains its top priority. Avelo Airlines also confirmed that its aircraft was being assessed by technical teams before returning to service.
Raleigh-Durham International Airport authorities said that airport operations were not disrupted, and no runway closures or significant flight delays were reported as a result of the collision. However, at least one Avelo flight scheduled later in the day experienced a delay while inspections were carried out.
The event has been classified as a ground handling incident, a category that typically involves aircraft movements during towing, parking, or pushback operations. Such incidents, while relatively rare, can occur in congested apron areas where precise coordination is required.
Details of the collision have been logged by aviation safety databases, and no further regulatory action has been announced at this stage.
