Two private aircrafts collided Tuesday afternoon at the William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, Texas, officials say.
The collision took place when a twin-engine Hawker aircraft departed from Runway 22 “without permission,” according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The aircraft’s departure led to a crash with a twin-engine Cessna C510 that was in the middle of its descent on Runway 13 Right.
The Cessna C510 was able to maneuver to the ramp area, averting further disaster. One social media user posted an audio clip allegedly recorded during the incident. In the audio, someone can be heard saying, “We can’t do that… we just had a midair.” Despite the collision, there were no reported injuries on either aircraft, according to the FAA. Authorities have not disclosed the exact number of passengers onboard the aircraft.
GROUNDSTOP AT HOBBY AIRPORT pic.twitter.com/RxQT2RcSsH
— Hobby Airport (@HobbyAirport) October 24, 2023
Debris resulting from the in-air confrontation necessitated a temporary ceasing of operations at the airport, causing an unavoidable ground stop that spanned several hours, Hobby Airport officials said. (RELATED: Airplane Collides With Airport Bus, Injures 5)
Officials announced the last remnants of debris had been cleared from the airfield at around 8 p.m., and that the airport had successfully restored flight operations. Travelers were advised to reach out to their respective airlines for up-to-date information regarding their flights.
“The debris has been cleared from the airfield. Hobby Airport has restored flight operations. Please contact your airline for flight status,” Hobby Airport said on X.