Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:29:14 +0000
    Annie Simoy - AHN News Writer

    San Francisco, CA (AHN) - No one was injured when two passenger planes collided outside the airport terminal at San Francisco International Airport Monday.

    A United Airlines Boeing 757 being towed when it struck a Skywest commuter jet with 60 passengers onboard, said the Federal Aviation Administration.

    The accident occurred at 5:30 p.m. and is under investigation.

    "The 757's tail basically went on top of the regional jet," the airport duty manager Lily Wang said. "It is human error. It is dark out there, it is nighttime. It could be (United) not seeing that other airplane because it is very low."

    According to FAA spokesman Ian Gregor, only one air traffic controller directed both planes who's fully certified and has many years of experience at San Francisco airport.

    "The controller appears to have pushed them both back at the same time," said Gregor stressing that the accident had nothing to do with runway safety.

    "It's a routine procedure. We're still investigating, reviewing audio tapes and talking to the people involved," he said.