Two ITA Airways and Air France flights were scheduled to depart from JFK on June 17, 2022, bound to European capitals.
Eight hours later, the ITA Airbus A330 made a successful landing in Rome, but the Air France Boeing 777 remained in New York. There are now concerns regarding the Italian airline’s lengthy trip as reports indicate that the two aircraft may have collided on the ground.
The eight-hour travel to Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport (FCO) in Italy was carried out by ITA Airways flight 611 on June 17, 2022, from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
Air France flight AF9, which was scheduled to depart from JFK and travel to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in France, was delayed in the meantime. The Boeing 777 from the French carrier, which arrived in New York, is still there.
According to The Aviation Herald, an on-ground accident involving an ITA Airways A330 and an Air France Boeing 777 resulted in damage to the wide body of the French airline.
Now, an audio recording of claimed conversations between the Air France flight crew and ground controllers, as well as between ATC and ITA’s pilots, has leaked.
The crew of what is believed to be an Air France flight is heard on tape explaining to ground control that they were “hit” by an “Alitalia” plane and requesting that the controllers stop the Italian plane from taking off after the event.
In another discussion, the controller is reported to have explained to ITA’s pilots Air France crew’s claim of being hit “or something of that nature” and asked if they experienced any damage to the aircraft, to which the crew replies “Negative, Sir. Ciao”.
According to ITA management, there was “no threat” to the passengers on board, according to the Italian media.
The Airbus A330 that is supposedly engaged with ITA Airways was previously owned by Alitalia and is believed to still be flying that airline’s livery.
