Another dramatic incident in the airline industry is likely to draw more scrutiny to DEI initiatives, with two Delta Airlines aircraft reportedly clipping one another at a Georgia airport on Tuesday.
The collision, which occurred when one plane clipped the rear of another while taxiing, immediately prompted speculation as to whether the airline’s commitment to “diversity, equity, and inclusion” programs played a part in Tuesday’s accident.
“Two @Delta Airlines Planes Collide On Runway At Georgia Airport. Delta Airlines Actively Pushes DEI (Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion) Rather Than Merit Based Hiring & Promotion. No Word Yet Whether That Played Any Role,” tweeted former Texas official John Basham.
Another social media user responded to the post, stating, “@Delta used to be my favorite, but since they went woke, I prefer other airlines.”
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, such concerns have gained more traction following the numerous headlines that stemmed from two deadly Boeing aircraft crashes and other less lethal collisions, near collisions, and aircraft emergencies over the last few years.
Delta, American, United, and Southwest Airlines all publicly release DEI-related metrics for investors. The data typically includes information regarding minority recruitment and other race- or sex-conscious hiring initiatives.
Here is some of what the Daily Mail reported on Tuesday’s collision:
Two Delta Airlines planes have collided on a runway at the country’s busiest airport.
The incident took place at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia just after 10am on Tuesday.
The crash occurred after Tokyo-bound flight DL295 clipped the back of flight DL5526 to Louisiana as it was taxiing for takeoff.
The regional jet, an Endeavor Air CRJ-900, was left with a severed tail while the Airbus 350 sustained damage to its wing.
Dramatic photos from witnesses appear to show the back end of the Louisiana-bound flight bent at a 90 degree angle.
So far, no injuries have been reported among the combined 277 passengers on board the jets.