Two Delta Airlines planes collide on runway at Georgia airport

Two Delta Airlines planes have collided on a runway at the country's busiest airport.

The shocking incident took place at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia just after 10am on Tuesday - with dramatic images showing the back end of the Louisiana-bound flight bent at a 90 degree angle. 

The crash occurred after large Tokyo-bound flight DL295 clipped the tail of flight DL5526 to Louisiana as it was taxiing for takeoff.

The regional jet, an Endeavor Air Bombardier CRJ-900, was left with a severed tail while the Airbus 350 - which weighs 239,000lbs - sustained damage to its wingtip.

By comparison, the smaller jet weights just 47,250lbs - five times as small.  

Delta said there were 56 people on the Bombardier, and 221 passengers on the Airbus plane. 

So far, no injuries have been reported among the combined 277 passengers on board the jets. 

Tampa meteorologist for WTFS TV Jason Adams said he was aboard the regional plane at the moment of impact.

'Well that was terrifying,' he posted on X. 'Taxiing out for the flight from Atlanta to Louisiana and another plane appears to have clipped the back of our plane. 

'Very jarring, metal scraping sounds then loud bangs. We’re fine. No fire or smoke. Awaiting instructions.'

Delta said that the Airbus rammed into the Lafayette-bound plane as it was sat on an adjacent runway, 'resulting in damage to the tail of the regional jet and the wing of the A350.'

'There have been no reported injuries at this time and customers are being transported back to the terminal where they will be re-accommodated on alternate flights,' Delta said in a statement.

'At this time, no additional operational adjustments are expected.'

Delta is cooperating with the NTSB and other authorities on this incident.'

Atlanta Airport confirmed there will be 'minimal impact' to its operations.

'At approximately 10:07 this morning two aircraft made contact at the intersection of taxiways E and H on the north airfield,' a statement read.

'At this time, no injuries are reported. Passengers from one of the aircraft are being bussed from the incident to the concourses. 

'The second aircraft taxied under its own power to a concourse where passengers will deplane at their gate. There is minimal impact to airport operations.'

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the country's busiest airport and is Delta's hub.

The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed it is investigating the incident.

DailyMail.com has contacted the FAA for comment. 

It comes after a Delta Airlines flight to Rome was forced to turn around over the Atlantic Ocean and return to Boston following a lightning strike last month.

That followed a concerning safety incident back in March when a Boeing-made Delta Airlines flight out of Aruba and bound for Atlanta was forced to turn back and make an emergency landing after an engine blow out on take-off.