Japan Airlines aircraft strikes tail of parked Delta Air Lines aircraft
February 6, 2025
Port of Seattle Fire, Police and SEA operations responded to an incident at 10.17am on Thursday 6 February at Seattle-Tacoma Airport, after a Japan Airlines aircraft “struck” the tail of a parked Delta Air Lines aircraft.
The Japan Airlines operated Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner made contact with a parked Delta Air Lines 787-300 which was awaiting de-icing, shortly after landing at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Delta Air Lines confirmed the incident this morning, saying “while in sequence for de-icing, the tail of a Delta 737 reportedly made contact with the wing tip of another airline’s aircraft.”
All 142 passengers onboard the Puerto Vallarta-bound Delta Air Lines flight were disembarked before being transported back to the terminal and rebooked on a later flight.
The incident was confirmed by airport authorities, who said in a statement: “At approximately 10.17am this morning, Port of Seattle Fire, Police and SEA operations responded to an incident on the ramp at SEA on a taxi line between S Concourse and the south airport maintenance hangars. The incident involved a taxiing Japan Airlines aircraft that appears to have struck the tail of a parked Delta Air Lines aircraft.”
Although no incidents were reported, the authorities noted that passengers were safely deplaned and brought back to the terminal. “There is minimal impact to airport operations as this occurred on a taxi lane,” they said, although passengers were being advised to check with their carrier before heading to the airport.
Authorities will examine potential causes of the collision, which raises ongoing concerns around ground safety for staff and passengers at airports where tight schedules and congested taxiways increase the risk of an incursion.
