'Substantial' damage caused to plane in Denver airport crash with de-icing trucks, NTSB report says

Lauren Penington, The Denver Post on Apr 10, 2026

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DENVER — One person was injured and a plane suffered “substantial” damage when a United Airlines flight collided with two de-icing trucks at Denver International Airport in March after taxiing without clearance, according to investigators.

The United plane was parked on a de-icing pad when the flight crew heard what they believed to be the de-icing crew wrapping up the task and debriefing, according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board.

The flight crew conducted all post-de-icing checks and received clearance to taxi from air traffic control, the report stated. However, when they started to move, they hit the de-icing trucks, pushing at least one onto its side. At that time, the flight crew was informed by the de-icing team that they had not been cleared to exit the pad and that the plane had hit the trucks, according to the report.

United Airlines initially reported that a de-icing truck had hit the plane.

One truck driver sustained minor injuries in the March 6 collision, which happened at about 10:24 a.m. None of the 136 people on board the Nashville-bound United plane — including pilots, flight attendants and passengers — were injured, according to the report.

The United plane, a Boeing 737, suffered “substantial” damage to the wings, which hit the trucks, according to the preliminary report.

Federal transportation officials said the investigation remains ongoing and involves NTSB specialists, the Federal Aviation Administration and United Airlines.

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