Two Alaska Airlines planes experienced a wing collision at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Saturday afternoon, causing delays for passengers. The incident occurred around 1 p.m. as Flights 1190, destined for Orange County, California, and 1094, headed to Sacramento, were pushing back from their gates.
Although the winglets of the two fully-boarded planes touched, reports indicate that no injuries were sustained among passengers. Following the incident, all passengers were required to deplane and transfer to new aircraft.
In response to the situation, an Alaska Airlines representative stated, “On Saturday, ground-service tugs were pushing back two Alaska Airlines aircraft from their gates when the winglets touched. There were no injuries, and the flights were swapped to other aircraft and have already departed. We sincerely apologize to our guests for the delay and inconvenience.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) clarified that air traffic control is not responsible for incidents occurring in the gate area, which helps emphasize the independent nature of ground operations.
While the incident caused temporary disruptions, it appears to have been resolved without any complications, allowing passengers to continue their journeys without significant delay. This illustrates the safety measures in place and the airline’s responsiveness in managing unexpected situations efficiently.