This must be among the most peculiar airport incidents we’ve encountered in quite some time. You might think this looks like an AI-generated video or something similar due to its oddity, but it’s been verified as authentic.
In this post:
China Eastern A350 significantly harmed at Shanghai Airport
This event took place today (approximately 11:40 AM local time on Saturday, May 2, 2026) at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA). It involves a five-year-old China Eastern Airbus A350-900 registered as B-324W, which had just finished flight MU5406, a 1,033-mile domestic trip from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU).
There is video evidence of this occurrence from various perspectives, including footage of the flight attendants in the jump seat observing the tail camera, bewildered by the situation. As the aircraft was approaching the gate, it seems unable to halt, resulting in the left engine and wing colliding with the jet bridge.
Instead of stopping, the aircraft then reversed with the thrust in operation, only to crash into the jet bridge once more. This resembles something out of a video game.
What might account for this strange incident?
It’s reasonable to deduce that some sort of malfunction occurred, as it’s clear this isn’t how a typical gate arrival transpires.
One would expect there to be a brake failure or something similar, or else the pilots wouldn’t have… well, performed that maneuver. The fact that they subsequently utilized reverse thrust bolsters that hypothesis, as it stands to reason they believed it to be the only means to inhibit further forward movement.
But I suppose after applying enough reverse thrust they switched to idle, which led to the aircraft moving forward again? The repeated collision with the jet bridge truly is the greatest enigma here.
It’s far too early to determine where the fault lies, and it’s also likely that the pilots should be commended for averting a worse scenario, such as crashing into the terminal (which could’ve had much more severe consequences).
Reports indicate that the aircraft ultimately halted when the pilots simply cut the engines, leading one to question why this wasn’t done sooner, and how sudden any potential brake failure was. Anyway, wow. All passengers onboard reportedly remained unharmed, and hopefully, those who may have been near the jet bridge also escaped with minimal injuries.
Bottom line
A China Eastern Airbus A350 suffered substantial damage today while maneuvering into its gate at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. For reasons unclear, the aircraft could not stop, resulting in its left engine and wing striking the jet bridge. The pilots immediately engaged reverse thrust to back the plane up, only to collide with the jet bridge once more.
What’s your take on this odd incident?