Following a mid-air disaster at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, travelers are curious as to how two massive jets could happen to cross paths unexpectedly.
On Wednesday, a Japan Airlines plane struck a parked Delta Air Lines plane while taxiing at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Following the impact, the Japanese plane’s wing became stuck in the Delta plane’s still tail.
Around 10:17 a.m., the collision happened on a taxi line between the airport’s south maintenance hangars and S Concourse. The incident was swiftly contained by the Port of Seattle Fire Department, SEA operations, and police. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.
Airport officials have also worked with both airlines to ensure that passengers are safely disembarked and transported to the terminal. Since the incident took place in a taxi lane, it had no impact on aircraft operations.
Sitting on the tarmac in #Seattle, and another plane just hit our wing. The plane shook. Loud. It was scary. Getting inspected now. 😓 pic.twitter.com/4Ve0fgQm8l
— jackie (@jacqpatton) February 5, 2025
Videos of the incident have gone viral online, and passengers and social media users have replied in shock. As many onlookers voiced their surprise at the unusual mid-ground collision, the occurrence became a hot topic of discussion.
We were seated on the SeaTac tarmac when a jet collided with us, slicing carelessly through our tail. Extremely frightening,” a witness posted on social media. Many were astonished by the incident. One user said, “This is crazy,” while another asked, “How is this possible?”
Another person said, “We were sitting on the tarmac in Seattle when another plane struck our wing.” The aircraft trembled. Out loud. It was horrible. Currently being examined.
Social media was inundated with comments as more people expressed their opinions about the situation. Others demanded explanations, questioning how an accident of this magnitude could have occurred despite the incompetence of the pilot and ground crew, while others simply dubbed it “wild,” disbelieving.
Concerns were also raised over traffic at the airport. One user said that SeaTac had been packed for some time, which may indicate operational strain.
Some folks had a total change of heart about flying as a result of the catastrophe. While one person admitted that they would not be “flying anytime soon,” another concurred, calling the situation “very scary”.
Others were simply baffled, unable to understand why these incidents kept happening. However, another commenter advocated for increased awareness, stating, “Whoo, be careful already—Geeze!”
When the damaged Boeing 737 crashed, 142 people were on board, according to Delta. The aircraft, identified as Flight 1921, was preparing to de-ice before departing for Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, when it was struck.
“We apologize for the experience and travel delay, and there are no reports of injuries to crew or passengers on the flight,” Delta said. Requests for comment from Japan Airlines have not yet been answered.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Japan Airlines’ Flight 68 was the aircraft in question. The plane had just landed after an eight-hour trip from Tokyo. The collision occurred in an area with uncontrolled air traffic. In response, the FAA temporarily halted some aircraft at the airport and opened an investigation into the event.
This incident takes place at a time when there is heightened scrutiny of American aviation safety. Just last week, 67 people lost their lives in a horrific mid-air accident over the Potomac River between an American Airlines aircraft and a U.S. Army helicopter.
Last Friday, January 31, a small medical plane carrying six people crashed near a commercial area in Northeast Philadelphia. It left no survivors and killed one person on the ground.
Concerns were heightened on Sunday when a United Airlines flight from Houston to New York had to be evacuated. When one of its engines caught fire while in airborne, this happened. The SeaTac incident not only left passengers in disbelief but also caused schedule disruptions, which infuriated many customers.
A global pioneer in real-time flight tracking, FlightAware, provided an evaluation of the impact. According to their data, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport saw numerous cancellations and delays as a result of the disaster.
As of right now, SeaTac has had 15 delays that have affected both aircraft entering and departing the United States. The event also resulted in the cancellation of 15 flights, including those into and out of the United States.
Travelers were compelled to make last-minute adjustments to their travel plans as the number of cancellations and delays rose, further complicating the already stressful scenario.
