FAA Investigates Southwest Airlines Ground Collision at PVD

This is a developing story. Information may change as official details are released.

This article summarizes reporting by WPRI, NBC 10, Daily Voice, and CBS News Baltimore.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has opened an investigation after two Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 aircraft collided during pushback at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport (PVD) late on June 11, 2026.

The ground collision resulted in no reported injuries but forced the cancellation of both flights and the grounding of the involved aircraft for mandatory safety inspections. According to reporting by the Daily Voice and NBC 10, the incident highlights ongoing operational challenges on airport ramps, occurring just weeks after a similar event involving the same carrier at another East Coast facility.

Details of the ground collision

At approximately 10:45 p.m. local time, Southwest Airlines Flight 3515, bound for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), was pushing back from its gate. During the maneuver, the aircraft’s wing made contact with the tail of Southwest Airlines Flight 3409, which was scheduled to depart for Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW).

Both aircraft returned to their respective gates following the contact, allowing passengers to deplane normally. Southwest Airlines confirmed that no injuries occurred among passengers or crew members. The carrier subsequently canceled both flights and reaccommodated the affected travelers.

“Southwest Airlines is aware of an incident involving two of our aircraft at Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport. We are investigating further and will be thoroughly inspecting the two aircraft,”

the airline stated in remarks provided to local media, adding that safety remains its highest priority.

Local media outlets, including NBC 10, reported passenger accounts suggesting that Flight 3515 continued to move briefly after the initial impact. These accounts claim passengers verbally alerted the flight crew to the collision. Neither Southwest Airlines nor the FAA has officially verified these specific passenger narratives, and the official sequence of events remains under investigation.

Regulatory response and recent precedent

The FAA confirmed on June 12, 2026, that it is investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision. Ground operations during pushback rely heavily on coordination between flight crews and ground personnel, particularly in ramp areas where air traffic controllers do not maintain direct communication with the aircraft.

This event follows a comparable occurrence on May 4, 2026, at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). In that instance, two Southwest Airlines Boeing 737s clipped wings during pushback operations. The FAA investigated the BWI incident, noting the specific communication dynamics between ground crews and the flight deck in non-controlled ramp sectors.

AirPro News analysis

We note that while ground collisions during pushback rarely pose a severe threat to passenger safety, they represent a significant operational and financial burden for carriers. Ramp incidents require immediate grounding of the involved airframes, triggering mandatory structural inspections and potential repairs. The recurrence of pushback-related contact within a single airline’s network over a short period may prompt internal reviews of ground handling procedures, wingwalker positioning, and ramp communication protocols. Until the FAA concludes its investigation, the specific cause of the PVD collision remains undetermined.

Sources: WPRI