United Express flight 6199 had just arrived from Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, according to Ian Gregor of the Federal Aviation Administration.
The FAA said that the pilots were following instructions form a ground handler.
The plane either rolled into the jetway bridge, or the jetway operator moved it out too quickly. This event is still under investigation.
In either case, the spinning propeller hit it, sending shattered metal flying.
The Embraer 120 was left at the gate through most of the day while FAA safety investigators examined the wreckage.
Late Tuesday afternoon, the plane was towed away under police escort to a hangar at the west end of the airport for repairs.
This was a very close call. The fact that no one was hurt by flying metal parts probably had more to do with luck than skill.
