FAA to – The FAA says the wing of Southwest Airlines Flight 3515 made contact with the tail of Southwest Airlines Flight 3409 at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport on June 12, 2026, after the aircraft pushed back onto the taxiway. Both planes returned to the
On Friday morning. the airport scene already sounded like it was over—two Southwest aircraft had returned to their gates. and passengers were able to step out. But the FAA’s account of what happened the night before at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport still leaves a sharp edge to the story: a wing clip. a tail contact. and a taxi movement that passengers say they didn’t expect would turn into a collision.
The FAA said the wing of Southwest Airlines Flight 3515 made contact with the tail of Southwest Airlines Flight 3409 as the planes were pushed back onto the taxiway at T.F. Green around 10:45 p.m. Both planes then returned to their gates and released their passengers. Crews responded to the incident at T.F. Green Airport on June 12, 2026, and the plane is expected to take off on Friday afternoon.
Inside the cabin, passengers described a moment that started as concern and quickly became something louder—something they felt they had to force into the cockpit’s attention. A passenger told NBC 10 that they had to yell at the cockpit after the plane allegedly collided while taxiing.
That same passenger said they were moved to a window seat because the flight felt half-empty. and that they had already been delayed six hours before the alleged collision. Afterward. they noticed the plane was getting “a little close to another. ” admitting they “didn’t think we would collide.” When it did happen. the passenger said they kept driving after the alleged collision—then watched as the responsibility to notice what had occurred seemed to fall on others to speak up.
FlightAware shows the flight was canceled.
Southwest released a statement saying it is aware of “an incident involving two of our aircraft at Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport.” The airline said it is investigating further and will “thoroughly inspect” the two aircraft. It added that it has reaccommodated affected customers. and ended with a focus on safety: “Nothing is more important to Southwest Airlines than the Safety of our Employees and our Customers.”.
The FAA said it will investigate the incident—one night that began with planes pushing back onto the taxiway and ended with crews responding, passengers back on the ground, and an investigation already underway before Friday afternoon’s expected departure.
FAA Southwest Airlines T.F. Green airport incident Flight 3515 Flight 3409 plane collision investigation passengers