A Thai Airways Airbus A330 has seriously damaged a Gulfstream IV private jet. This occurred whilst taxiing at Vientiane Airport on the 9th of March; after its wing struck the tail, chopping it clean off.
The aircraft, an Airbus A330-300 registered HS-TEU, was preparing to perform flight TG575 from Vientiane to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, with 92 passengers and crew on board when the incident occurred.
Photos circulating on Twitter show the Gulfstream IV, operated by Blue Sky Leasing under registration M-YWAY, in its parking bay looking in pristine condition, other than the fact that its tail is hanging somewhat perfectly off the side.
However, upon closer inspection, the nose landing gear also appears to have endured considerable forces; as identified by its twisted stance, rather than being in line with the pavement markings.
As for the Airbus A330, the damage is entirely limited to the outboard leading edge of the wing; photos show a dent just prior to the wingtip.
For the Thai Airways Airbus A330 the repairs should be fairly easy, and at a time where travel demand is much lower due to COVID-19, this shouldn’t create too much of a problem in terms of operational performance.
However the story is different for the Gulfstream IV, which will have to undergo a large-scale inspection; primarily for structural deformation and any other internal components that may have been destroyed/damaged.
I thought it was a new Burt Rutan design.
Being a retiree from Gulfstream after 37 years. I’ve seen us repair worse.
I’ve seen several plane to plane strikes lately, resulting in pretty serious structural damage to either one or both of the aircrafts involved. I have to ask are these pilots just not paying attention or what. That GIV was is a designated parking space with cones around it. Wake boys!!!!
I dunno, I think the Gulfstream looks pretty sexy that way . Super glue, some duct tape, I could have her flying in three days
Make sure it’s Mach .8 duct tape. You can find it will in aisle H3 at Wally World.
As a Gulfstream expert mechanic, it is not hard for a wing to damage the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and horizontal stabilizer. Like the photo shows. Most likely the GIV is beyond economical repair. The owners will make more money by parting out the aircraft.
This is something really very serious. But how can the wings get distroyed completely. Gulfstream should work on it.
It wasent the wing on the G4 that was damaged. The picture clearly shows the whole tail section laying on its side. So your comment is confusing.
Ya might nerd glasses 😎
Is there potential for structural damage on the airbus where the wing joins the frame? Or elsewhere in the body tube?