A passenger plane collided with a boarding bridge upon landing at a significant airport in China, causing alarm among travelers who heard a loud noise upon impact. Video footage captured the aircraft, operated by China Eastern Airlines, slowly approaching the assigned gate before its wing struck the bridge, resulting in a section collapsing.
Following the landing at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport on May 2, images depicted a partially collapsed bridge. The Airbus A350-900 made contact with the bridge, reversed, and then hit it again. Passengers recounted multiple impacts, mentioning that the aircraft reversed after the initial collision and then moved forward, striking the structure a second time with a loud noise.
Reports indicated that a Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84 engine on the left wing suffered a direct impact. China Eastern Airlines assured that all passengers and crew safely disembarked from the unaffected side of the plane, issuing a formal apology for the inconvenience caused.
The airline attributed the incident to a mechanical problem affecting the aircraft’s movement during taxiing. The aircraft, in service for approximately five years, sustained visible damage near the wing. All passengers and crew were reported safe, with each passenger offered compensation of £33 (CNY 300).
The collision occurred during China’s busy May Day holiday, a peak period for domestic air travel. Authorities in aviation safety initiated an investigation to determine the root cause, whether it was due to technical failure, human error, or issues with the airport’s electronic guidance system.
The plane has been grounded for thorough technical inspections, with regulators examining the procedures followed during its arrival.