United Airlines to Scrap Airbus A320 Damaged by Catering Truck at Reagan National

United Airlines is preparing to scrap an Airbus A320, registered N470UA, that has been parked at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) since May. The aircraft sustained rear‑fuselage damage when a catering truck struck it on the tarmac. The plane has remained at DCA for months while United assessed the extent of the damage. Recent photographs show the aircraft’s United branding covered and its engines removed, indicating the start of a stripping process. The scrapping will involve removing usable components and dismantling the airframe. The decision follows a thorough evaluation that concluded the damage exceeds repair thresholds, making the aircraft unfit for continued service.