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Chicago-bound plane clips Detroit Metro Airport terminal while taxiing away from gate

Delta flight 3443 to Chicago delayed after plane damages tail wing

ROMULUS, Mich. – A Delta plane struck the McNamara Terminal Wednesday at Detroit Metro Airport as it was leaving the gate to taxi to the runway.

Photos show the plane, Endeavor Air connector flight 3443 to Chicago, sustained damage to its left tail wing. Airport spokesman Mike Conway said it was a very low-speed collision with the terminal building.

No one on the plane or in the terminal was hurt.

The aircraft tug had released from the plane before the collision, meaning the plane was under its own control when the wing clipped the building. An airport officer noticed the collision and notified the FAA tower immediately. The tower ordered the plane back to the gate (gate A-43).

This happened just after 12 p.m. The flight was scheduled to depart at 12:01 p.m. and arrive in Chicago at 12:30 p.m. local time. It was delayed an hour.

"Customers have been re-accommodated on an alternate aircraft with minimal delay to their original schedule," said Delta spokesman Dave Sniadak in statement.

Sniadak said maintenance is evaluating the damaged aircraft, which is a CRJ-900.

Here's a wide view of the gate area:

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