On Saturday, Sea-Tac Airport witnessed an unusual runway rendezvous when two Alaska Airlines jets, carrying passengers bound for California, inadvertently performed a metallic tango with their wings. According to FOX 13 Seattle, Flights 1190 and 1094 collided wings shortly after 1 p.m. as they were backing away from the gates, a mishap that rippled through the airport's schedule with delays.
Ground-service tugs, those diligent chariots of the tarmac, were at the helm when the Boeing 737-800 and 737-900, each carrying near 180 souls, reached out and touched tips. Both aircraft were destined for the sunnier skies of Orange County, and Sacramento, as per a spokesperson for Alaska Airlines cited by The Seattle Times.
In the wake of the wing-clipping, Sea-Tac Airport extended an official apology for the inconvenience caused to travelers, undeniably eager to embark on their delayed journeys. "They sincerely apologize to their guests for the delay and the inconvenience," the airport stated in a message shared by KOMO News. Fortunately, there were no physical injuries reported except perhaps, to the pride of the planes themselves.
Currently, the Federal Aviation Administration has taken the investigative helm, though details of what led to the clipped wings are still up in the air. For passengers and crew alike, the incident serves as a reminder of the delicate choreography required in aviation, where even on the ground, where we feel safe and secure.
