An Iberia Airbus A350-900 was grounded at José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport (GYE) in Guayaquil, Ecuador on June 5, 2026 after its wingtip struck an airport fire truck during a ceremonial water cannon salute.
The aircraft was preparing for departure as flight IB-132 to Madrid when it began taxiing beneath an arch of water formed by two fire trucks positioned on either side of the taxiway.
During the maneuver, the fire truck on the left side of the aircraft appeared to be positioned too close to the plane’s path. As the A350 moved forward, the truck’s extended water cannon arm made contact with the plane’s wingtip, leaving a deep groove.
The flight crew immediately stopped the taxi and returned the aircraft to the terminal. The flight was eventually cancelled so that engineers and maintenance teams could assess the extent of the damage.
A passenger aboard Iberia A350 flight for Madrid recorded the moment a fire truck snozzle offering a water salute clipped the left wing of the aircraft. So unfortunate—a celebratory flight canceled, leaving them stuck in Ecuador.pic.twitter.com/W136ynLqfb
— Turbine Traveller (@Turbinetraveler) June 4, 2026
What prompted the salute
Iberia normally operates an Airbus A330 on the Guayaquil-Madrid route, but had temporarily substituted the newer A350-900 on the service.
To mark the first departure of the aircraft type from Guayaquil, airport authorities arranged a water cannon salute, a common tradition in aviation used to celebrate events like inaugural flights, new aircraft deployments, or pilot retirements.
A water salute typically involves two fire trucks spraying arcs of water over an aircraft as it taxis through. While the practice is considered symbolic and celebratory, it requires precise coordination between the ground vehicles and the aircraft to avoid contact.
Damage under inspection
The A350-900 is a modern composite aircraft and consequently even minor structural damage requires careful evaluation before the plane can be cleared to fly again. For now, the plane remains grounded in Guayaquil until the inspection is complete.
Photos and videos of the collision were captured by planespotters at the airfield perimeter and by passengers on board the aircraft, and quickly circulated online. Authorities in Ecuador are expected to review the incident to determine whether positioning errors or procedural gaps led to the incident.
