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Video shows tanker striking docked American Heritage in New Orleans

ABC News's live coverage includes collision footage and Louisiana's lieutenant governor describing rescues, alongside its reporting on the FAA departure halt.

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ABC News Story of November 14, 2026Trari Newsroom

Why this story? One of ABC News's most watched videos since yesterday, with 798,190 views.

LIVE: FAA lifts nationwide ground stop l ABC News Live

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0:00Billy Nungesser describes water rescues as footage shows the riverboat listing near the Port of New Orleans.
5:46David Muir announces the nationwide departure halt, attributed to an air traffic control communications problem.
11:12ABC identifies the vessels as Atlantic Asphalt and American Heritage, reporting approximately 129 passengers aboard the riverboat.
15:02Bystander video captures the tanker striking the docked riverboat broadside.
17:20Sam Sweeney reports that the communications issue affects centers handling high-altitude air traffic.
52:26Anthony Austin describes passengers deplaning after a lengthy wait aboard an aircraft in Jacksonville.

Bystander footage aired by ABC News shows a large tanker striking a docked riverboat broadside near the Port of New Orleans. The American Heritage then appears severely tilted in footage of the rescue operation.

The broadcast adds the moment of impact and an account from Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser to coverage of the Mississippi River collision. ABC identifies the tanker as the Atlantic Asphalt and reports that approximately 129 passengers were aboard the American Cruise Lines vessel.

Speaking by phone during the opening coverage, Nungesser describes rescuers pulling people from the water. Correspondent Aaron Katersky later reports that passengers jumped overboard wearing life vests. At that stage, Katersky says, the lieutenant governor did not know whether everyone had been accounted for.

The broadcast also follows the nationwide departure halt. Sam Sweeney, citing Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, reports a communications problem affecting the centers that manage high-altitude air traffic. Flights already airborne were allowed to continue.

The video's title announces that the FAA has lifted the ground stop, though the opening hour follows the earlier shutdown as it unfolds. That includes a firsthand account from ABC affiliate anchor Anthony Austin, stranded aboard an aircraft in Jacksonville, who describes passengers being allowed to deplane after a long wait.