Two Private Jets Collide At Houston's Hobby Airport After Unauthorized Takeoff, Prompting Hours-Long Flight Suspension

Collision of Private Jets Under Investigation; Closure of Houston's Hobby Airport Led to Delays and Diversions of Approximately 130 Flights

A private jet took off without permission at Houston's William Hobby Airport, colliding with another jet that was landing. The jets were a Hawker 850XP and a Cessna Citation.
No injuries were reported from the incident, but the collision caused a significant disruption to flight schedules, leading to about 130 flight delays and diversions.
The unauthorized takeoff and ensuing collision occurred amid a broader context of near misses at airports across the country, alarming aviation officials and leading to investigations by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The pilot of the Hawker jet reportedly quoted, “You guys cleared somebody to take off or land and we hit them on a departure,” suggesting miscommunication or misunderstanding between pilots and air traffic controllers.
The incident happened hours before the Senate confirmed Michael Whitaker as the new administrator of the FAA, pointing to an added pressure on him to address aviation safety concerns.