Frontier Airlines has initiated legal action against American Airlines in a Florida district court, seeking damages exceeding $100,000 following a serious ground collision at Miami International Airport (MIA) that necessitated extensive repairs and resulted in a six-month service interruption for one of its planes.
The lawsuit, recently filed, alleges gross negligence on the part of American Airlines, detailing claims of inadequate training and supervision. While American Airlines initially agreed to cover the repair costs due to the incident, negotiations for additional expenses have stalled. Frontier asserts that it is owed compensation for lost revenue and profits stemming from the grounded aircraft, as well as ongoing operational disruptions and continued lease payments despite the aircraft being out of commission.
The legal dispute revolves around an incident that occurred on March 7, 2024, when an American Airlines Boeing 777-300, preparing for a flight to Sao Paulo as flight AA-929, was maneuvering from its gate. The aircraft collided with a Frontier Airlines Airbus A321neo parked in compliance at its designated gate due to a ground delay program in effect at that time. Frontier’s legal representatives argue that the pushback procedure for the American Airlines flight encroached into a safety zone designated for the A321neo, culminating in significant structural damage that rendered the vertical stabilizer irreparable.
Following the incident, extensive repairs were required, and the aircraft remained out of service until September 4, 2024. The lawsuit describes the financial ramifications for Frontier, highlighting substantial damages, including repair costs and lost profits from the aircraft’s downtime. By September 2025, the two airlines reached a partial settlement covering the repair expenses, but disagreements continue regarding other losses incurred by Frontier.
Frontier Airlines has expressed concerns about American Airlines’ safety protocols, stating that incidents of this nature highlight systemic issues with American’s training and compliance measures. Despite these claims, no formal response from American Airlines to the lawsuit has been filed yet. The case is currently progressing through the District Court for the Southern District of Florida under case number: 1:26-cv-20686.
This situation underscores ongoing challenges within the aviation industry regarding ground operations and safety standards, prompting calls for heightened scrutiny and improvement of existing practices to prevent similar incidents in the future.