An American Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner was transported to San Antonio (SAT) following a reported tug accident at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
Flight information
The extent of the 
American Airlines
Boeing 787-9 widebody damage is unclear. However, the aircraft was fit enough to fly from New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to San Antonio International Airport (SAT) on December 20, 2024.
The flight between the two cities lasted four hours. According to Flightradar24.com, the aircraft was originally scheduled to operate on December 19, 2024, but the flight was canceled.
The aircraft tracking data also reveals that the 787-9 Dreamliner has been on the ground at JFK since November 29, 2024. Before the ground incident, the aircraft was deployed on long-haul flights between Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and London Heathrow Airport (LHR) in the United Kingdom, among others.
Simple Flying has asked American Airlines for comment.
Aircraft information
The aircraft in question is the American Airlines 8.4-year-old Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, registered as N820AL, which was delivered to the airline in September 2016.
According to ch-aviation data, the airline’s Boeing 787-9 aircraft can seat up to 285 passengers in a four-class cabin layout: 30 in business class, 21 in premium economy, 36 in economy plus, and 198 in economy class. As of July 31, 2024, the 787-9 clocked 31,117 flight hours and 3,761 flight cycles.
Photo: Philip Pilosian | Shutterstock
Ground damage occurs relatively often, and repairing affected aircraft can be extremely expensive. The causes of ground damage, no matter the source, typically come down to simple human error.
In an interview with Aviation Pros, Terry Yeomans, director of the IS-BAH (International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling) Program, shared insights based on limited data collected over the past six years.
He revealed that 26% of aircraft damage incidents involve contact with ground support equipment (GSE) or ground vehicles. Aircraft towing or pushback contributes to 25% of incidents, while collisions between aircraft account for 10%. Additionally, 15% of incidents involve aircraft striking immovable objects such as buildings or light posts.
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No injuries were reported.
American Airlines Boeing 787 delivery delays
Extended maintenance can significantly impact an airline’s route network. At present, the Dallas Fort Worth-based carrier is also facing delays in the delivery of new Boeing 787 Dreamliners. As a result, the airline has been compelled to reduce the frequency of certain long-haul flights and adjust its international route network for the upcoming spring season.
Photo: jekjob | Shutterstock
In a comment to Simple Flying, the airline said:
“As a result of ongoing Boeing 787 delivery delays, American is adjusting service on certain routes in spring 2025 to ensure we are able to re-accommodate customers on affected flights. We’ll be proactively reaching out to our impacted customers to offer alternate travel arrangements and remain committed to mitigating the impact of these Boeing delays while continuing to offer a comprehensive global network.”
Presently, American Airlines has a hefty fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The fleet includes 37 Boeing 787-8s and 22 Boeing 787-9 widebodies standing at an average age of 6.6 years, according to ch-aviation data. The airline is currently awaiting 30 787-9s.
American Airlines is not the sole carrier experiencing route network adjustments due to delays in delivery of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. In a recent announcement, British Airways said it would cut its summer flights between London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport (AUH), the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
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Boeing 787 Delivery Delays Force Long-Haul Network Cuts At American Airlines
The airline has reportedly been forced to make adjustments to its spring 2025 long-haul route network.