An aircraft needed to be delayed after a garbage truck hit it on Friday morning, while boarding was taking place.

As a result, the passengers were forced to get off the plane and head back to the airport.

The incident occurred at Piedmont Triad International Airport, North Carolina, USA. It involved an American Airlines plane.

The collision caused the plane to shake and a piece of the garbage truck was left wedged in the wing of the plane.

The flight, which was headed to Dallas, was delayed for several hours after the garbage truck hit the aircraft.

“We had just boarded when we felt a very strong jolt for several seconds and then another one,” passenger Joni Crofoot said.

Meanwhile, pictures from the scene show airport staff and police surrounding the green garbage truck following the incident.

A portion of the truck, operated by a contractor, became stuck in the left wing of the plane and caused a large amount of damage.

Basketball coach Steve Forbes was on board and claimed it felt like an earthquake at the time.

“Here is a new one for those of us who travel by air,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

“Sitting on the plane in Greensboro preparing to depart. Plane begins to violently shake. Is it an earthquake?!?! Nope, just a garbage truck running into the plane.”

A spokesman for American Airlines said: “During boarding of American Airlines flight 1716 from Greensboro, NC (GSO) to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), a vehicle made contact with the wing of the aircraft.

“All customers and crew members onboard deplaned and returned to the terminal, and the aircraft has been taken out of service for maintenance.

“We thank our team members for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for the inconvenience.” (Daily Mail)

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