ATLANTA- A Delta Air Lines (DL) CRJ-900LR that had its tail sheared off in a collision at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in 2024 returns to active service after a year-long reconstruction.
The remarkable recovery showcases both Delta’s engineering commitment and the resilience of its maintenance teams.
The CRJ-900LR aircraft, operated by Delta’s subsidiary Endeavor Air, was extensively rebuilt instead of being scrapped, a decision that saved a valuable airframe and demonstrated Delta’s focus on long-term fleet sustainability.
Aviation photographer Brian Uretsky recently captured the first images of the repaired jet back in operation.
Photo: By BriYYZ from Toronto, Canada – Delta Connection (Endeavor Air) Bombardier CRJ-900 N305PQ, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47801242Delta CRJ-900LR Returns to Service
The incident occurred on September 10, 2024, when the regional jet was holding short of a runway for departure to Lafayette (LFT).
During taxiing, a Delta Airbus A350 on an adjacent taxiway struck the CRJ-900LR’s tail with its wingtip. The collision sliced off the regional jet’s vertical stabilizer, causing severe structural damage. Fortunately, only one flight attendant suffered minor injuries.
A post shared by Brian Uretsky (@uretskyaviation)
Despite the extensive damage, Delta Air Lines chose not to retire the aircraft. Instead, the airline sent it for a comprehensive repair program that lasted nearly 12 months. Engineers replaced the entire tail section and conducted detailed airframe and systems inspections before recertification.
According to PYOK, Delta’s decision to rebuild rather than write off the jet reflects a growing industry trend to extend aircraft lifecycles through advanced repair technologies.
Last month, the repaired jet (registration N302PQ) was spotted outside the maintenance hangar, featuring a newly painted tail in Delta’s iconic livery.
Following successful ground tests, the aircraft completed its first post-repair flight on September 24, 2025, a 90-minute test sortie before making a short repositioning flight to Middle Georgia Regional Airport (MCN) for final paintwork.
Photo: By Aero Icarus from Zürich, Switzerland – Delta Connection Canadair CRJ700; N603QX@SLC;09.10.2011/621ds, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26713188Collision Details
Preliminary findings from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reveal that the regional jet had stopped approximately 56 feet short of the runway threshold, closer than standard holding position requirements.
The Airbus A350’s captain, focused on traffic to the left, failed to notice the CRJ on his right, resulting in the tail strike.
The force of the collision detached the CRJ’s vertical stabilizer completely. Emergency services responded promptly, and the damage assessment classified the aircraft as “major structural failure.”
However, Delta’s maintenance team saw potential in restoring the 11 year old jet, citing that it still had over 20 years of service life remaining.
Photo: By Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK – Bombardier CRJ-700 ‘N738EV’ Delta Connection, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46790804Precedent in Aviation Recovery
After nearly a year of precision engineering, stress testing, and flight validation, the CRJ-900LR re-entered Delta’s regional fleet. The aircraft is expected to resume short-haul operations across the southeastern United States.
Mechanics who worked on the project described it as one of the most technically challenging restorations in Delta’s history.
Aviation experts note that such recoveries, though rare, are not unprecedented. In 2023, United Airlines (UA) successfully repaired a damaged Boeing 767 after a landing incident, further proving the airline industry’s capability to restore heavily damaged aircraft to safe flying condition.
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