A commercial aircraft collided with a passenger bridge during its landing at a major airport in China, causing alarm among passengers who heard a loud noise upon impact.
Footage captured the aircraft, operated by China Eastern Airlines, slowly approaching the gate before its wing struck the boarding bridge, resulting in a significant section collapsing.
Images displayed a partially collapsed bridge shortly after the plane touched down at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport on May 2. The Airbus A350-900 made contact with the bridge, reversed, and struck it again.
Passengers recounted multiple impacts, noting that the aircraft reversed after the initial collision and then moved forward, hitting the structure a second time with a loud noise heard. Travelers likened the sensation to turbulence.
Reports indicated that a valuable Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84 engine on the left wing bore the direct impact.
China Eastern Airlines verified that all passengers and crew safely disembarked from the unaffected side of the aircraft. The airline issued a formal apology for the disruption.
An airline spokesperson attributed the incident to a mechanical problem affecting the aircraft’s movement during taxiing. They mentioned that the aircraft, in service for approximately five years, sustained visible damage near the wing.
All passengers and crew were reported safe by China Eastern Airlines, with each passenger offered compensation of £33 (CNY 300).
The collision occurred during China’s peak May Day holiday period, known for high domestic air travel volumes.
Aviation safety authorities initiated an official investigation to determine whether the collision resulted from technical failure, human error, or issues with the airport’s electronic guidance system.
The aircraft remains grounded for thorough technical inspections, with regulators scrutinizing the arrival procedures closely.
