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Two planes collide with tails, causing backlog of flights in Australia

Xinhua, October 5, 2016 Adjust font size:

Two planes have clipped their tails while on the ground at Paraburdoo airport in Western Australia's Pilbara, stranding passengers and causing a backlog of flights.

No one was injured in the incident Wednesday, which involved Fokker model plans from QantasLink and Network Aviation, both part of Australia's Qantas group, Fairfax Media reported.

The horizontal stabilisers on the tails of both planes can be seen touching in photographs shared on social media, the areas are crucial control surfaces.

Paraburdoo is major airport for fly-in and fly-out mining workers. Nathan Piermont from global mining giant Rio Tinto Group wrote on Facebook: "Well looks like we're going to be stuck at Paraburdoo for a while. Thanks Qantas."

Another Rio worker Brenton Collins said the incident has backed up flights taking workers out of the area.

"They had to send everyone back to camp because all flights grounded, they also have another plane there which can not take off because the other two are in the way," he said.

The planes did not touch but came extremely close as the QantasLink aircraft was pulling away from the terminal on Wednesday afternoon to leave for Perth, a Qantas spokesman told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

ABC reported that a passenger on one of the aircraft had felt a bump, but he could not tell what it was.

The two planes, still stuck on the airport apron, have been unable to manoeuvre away from one another.

Engineers and the pilots are trying to move the aircraft.

About 70 passengers and crew were forced to disembark the QantasLink plane, while it is believed passengers were also taken off the Network Aviation aircraft.

It is understood all passengers are being sent to Newman, a town in Western Australia by bus in order to continue their journey to Perth. Endit