A mid-ground collision at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has left travelers questioning how two massive aircraft could cross paths in such an unexpected way.
A Japan Airlines plane clipped a parked Delta Air Lines jet while taxiing at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Wednesday. The impact left the Japanese aircraft’s wing lodged in the tail of the stationary Delta plane.
A photo taken from a video showcasing the incident that occured between Delta Airline and Japan Airline dated February 5, 2025 | Source: Tiktok/@dailymail
The collision happened around 10:17 a.m. on a taxi line between S Concourse and the airport’s south maintenance hangars. The Port of Seattle Fire Department, police, and SEA operations responded swiftly to the situation. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.
Airport authorities have also worked with both airlines to ensure passengers are safely deplaned and transported to the terminal. Since the incident took place on a taxi lane, there was minimal impact on flight 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 moment have surfaced online, with passengers and social media users reacting in disbelief. Many shared their shock at the rare mid-ground collision, turning the incident into a viral conversation.
“So, we were sitting on the tarmac at SeaTac, and another plane ran into us—just casually sliced into our tail. Very scary,” one witness wrote on social media. The incident left many stunned. “This is insane,” one user commented, while another questioned, “How is this possible?”
A fan comment dated February 6, 2025 | Source: Facebook/nytimes
Another described the moment of impact, “Sitting on the tarmac in #Seattle, and another plane just hit our wing. The plane shook. Loud. It was scary. Getting inspected now.”
More comments flooded on social media as many weighed in on the incident. Some were simply in disbelief, calling it “wild,” while others demanded answers, questioning how such a collision could occur despite ground crew and pilot oversight.
A fan comment dated February 5, 2025 | Source: Tiktok/@dailymail
Concerns about the airport’s congestion also surfaced. One user remarked that SeaTac had been overcrowded for some time, hinting at potential operational strain.
For some, the incident was enough to reconsider air travel altogether. One person admitted they wouldn’t be “flying anytime soon,” while another echoed the sentiment, calling the situation “very scary.”
A fan comment dated February 6, 2024 | Source: Facebook/fox13seattle
Others were simply puzzled, struggling to understand how these incidents keep happening. Meanwhile, another user urged for more caution, exclaiming, “Whoo, be careful already—Geeze!”
Delta confirmed that the impacted Boeing 737 was carrying 142 passengers at the time of the collision. The aircraft, operating as Flight 1921, was preparing for de-icing before its scheduled departure to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico when it was struck.
A Delta passenger jet | Source: Getty Images
“There are no reports of injuries for crew or customers on the flight, and we apologize for the experience and delay in travels,” Delta stated. Meanwhile, Japan Airlines has yet to respond to requests for comment.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Japan Airlines aircraft involved was Flight 68. The plane had just completed an eight-hour journey from Tokyo. The collision occurred in an area not under air traffic control. In response, the FAA temporarily halted some flights at the airport and launched an investigation into the incident.
