Two Delta Air Lines planes have collided on a taxiway at a US airport, with a larger plane knocking off the tail section of a smaller regional jet.

No injuries were reported at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Delta said passengers were re-booked on other flights that departed on Tuesday afternoon, local time.

The Atlanta-based airline said the wing of a Delta Airbus A350 jet that was bound for Tokyo hit the tail of a smaller Bombardier CRJ-900 that was on an adjacent taxiway.

The regional jet — operated by Delta subsidiary Endeavor Air — was preparing to take off for Lafayette, Louisiana.

"You know I just noticed that the tail on the RJ is missing," an air traffic controller said, according to audio archives maintained by LiveATC.net.

"So Endeavor 5526, hold your position, and do you require any immediate assistance?"

"No immediate assistance," a pilot answered back.

"We'll need a tow, though."

Jason Adams, a meteorologist for WFTS-TV in Tampa, Florida travelling to Louisiana to cover Hurricane Francine, recounted the moment of impact on X.

"Well that was terrifying," Adams wrote.

"Taxiing out for the flight from Atlanta to Louisiana and another plane appears to have clipped the back of our plane. Very jarring, metal scraping sounds then loud bangs. We're fine. No fire or smoke."

Adams posted pictures of the tail of the smaller plane knocked on its side and laying on the taxiway.

Delta said the wing of the larger plane was also damaged.

"We apologize to our customers for the experience," the airline said in a statement.

Officials at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport said passengers from one plane were bussed back to the terminal, while the other plane returned to a gate under its own power.

There were 221 passengers on the Airbus and 56 passengers on the regional jet.

Delta said it would cooperate with the National Transportation Safety Board and other authorities to investigate the incident.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it was also investigating.

Airport officials described disruptions to operations at the world's busiest airport as "minimal".

Delta said both planes would be moved to maintenance hangars.

AP