Key Takeaways
• Two Alaska Airlines Boeing 737s collided wingtips during pushback at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on May 17, 2025.
• The FAA launched an investigation into ground crew procedures, with passengers safely rebooked and no injuries reported.
• Recent ground incidents suggest recurring risks as airport traffic rises, prompting calls for training, updates, and stricter ground safety enforcement.
On May 17, 2025, two Alaska Airlines planes collided while being pushed back from their gates at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. This wingtip collision, which came as both jets prepared for departure, has brought airport ground safety into the spotlight again. Aviation experts, passengers, and airport workers are watching closely to see what happened and whether airports are doing enough to keep everyone safe as air travel becomes busier.
Incident Details: What Happened to the Alaska Airlines Planes?
According to public statements and official reports, the event happened just after 1 p.m. Seattle time. The two planes, both Boeing 737s, were fully loaded with passengers and scheduled for flights AS1190 (to Orange County) and AS1094 (to Sacramento). As ground-service tugs were maneuvering the aircraft away from adjacent gates, the wingtips of the two jets touched. This event is known as a wingtip collision and usually happens when there is little room to move or there is a mistake in the pushback process.
A spokesperson for Alaska Airlines shared, “On Saturday, May 17, ground-service tugs were pushing back two Alaska Airlines aircraft from their gates when the winglets touched at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. There were no injuries. The flights were swapped to other aircraft and have already departed. We sincerely apologize to our guests for the delay and inconvenience.”
Though the event was startling, it is important to note that all passengers were safely removed from the planes. The airline quickly rebooked travelers on other flights so they could get to their destinations. Both planes were taken out of service so maintenance teams could check for any damage and make repairs as needed.
FAA Investigation and the Role of Safety Protocols
After a wingtip collision or any event involving the safety of passengers and aircraft, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) starts an investigation. The FAA is responsible for ensuring U.S. air travel is safe for everyone. Their investigation will focus on what happened during the pushback from the gates, whether ground crew followed procedures, and if airport traffic or other issues played a role in the collision.
The FAA has already said that air traffic control is not responsible for what happens at the gates—this part of the airport (the ramp or gate area) is under the control of the airline and airport’s ground teams. If the investigation finds that procedures were not followed, or there are risks due to gate spacing or crew workload, the FAA could recommend changes.
Immediate steps often include reviewing training for ground staff, examining whether there were enough staff on hand, and looking for any distractions. As airports become busier, with more flights and larger planes, the risk for these incidents can increase if new safety measures are not put in place.
Is This Part of a Bigger Problem?
The recent wingtip collision at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is not unique. Over the last few months, several ground accidents have made headlines. These include:
- On May 6, 2025, two United Airlines Boeing 777-300ER planes collided while being pushed back at San Francisco International Airport.
- On April 10, 2025, two smaller regional planes—one CRJ700 and one Embraer E175—clipped wings at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington.
- On February 5, 2025, a Japan Airlines Boeing 787, while taxiing, hit the tail of a stationary Delta Airlines Boeing 737 at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
These ground-incident reports shed light on a pattern that cannot be ignored. Busy airports, especially those like Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, handle hundreds of flights a day. As summer travel grows, so does the chance for mistakes if equipment, space, or training are not kept up-to-date.
Aviation authorities and the FAA are paying closer attention to these problems. When multiple accidents happen close together in time, it can mean more than just bad luck: there may be bigger issues with ground operations, traffic flow, or even how gates are designed and scheduled. It also pushes airports to keep looking for new ways to avoid accidents.
Data and Patterns: Looking Beyond Just One Event
The Federal Aviation Administration keeps detailed records of all events that could pose risks at airports. From January 2019 up until now, the agency recorded at least 30 runway incursions (meaning times when planes, vehicles, or people ended up where they shouldn’t be, usually on active runways) at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. In September 2024, there were even two near-accidents in the span of just a few days.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, these kinds of records not only help investigators understand individual accidents but also help airport leaders see if there is a growing risk. Patterns like these can mean protocols need to be reviewed, equipment updated, or more space given for aircraft to move safely.
This is not only a problem at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. San Francisco, Chicago, New York, and other airports across the United States have all reported similar ground incidents in recent years. When these situations occur, they can cause long delays, missed connections, and sometimes significant costs for airlines and passengers alike.
Does More Money Mean More Safety?
After past events, the U.S. government and the FAA have worked to make airports better. Using the bipartisan infrastructure law passed in 2021, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport alone received over $178 million for upgrades. This funding is meant for improving runways, taxiways, lighting, and technology that help keep airplanes and people safe on the ground.
But money alone is not always enough. Even with new tools and better roads for planes to travel between gates and runways, accidents can still happen if daily details are overlooked—things like having enough rest for ground staff, proper training, good communication, and making sure everyone is paying close attention during busy times.
Some experts say that while airport expansions and new buildings are helpful, there needs to be the same focus on ground operations as on flying. Simple changes, like clearer markings on the tarmac, improved lighting around gates, and regular safety reviews for ground crews, can all help reduce the chance of accidents.
What’s Being Done to Keep You Safe?
With so many incidents getting attention, airports and airlines are reviewing their own rules for ground safety. They have to make sure everyone working on or near the planes has the training to spot risks and react quickly. Changes might involve:
- More detailed step-by-step guides for ground crew
- Regular safety drills and refreshers
- Better coordination between team members moving multiple planes in the same area
- Using more advanced technology, such as sensors or cameras, to alert crews when planes get too close
Additionally, the FAA works closely with airports to make sure safety measures are up to date. If problems are found during an investigation, the agency can require new steps be taken. For people who want to know more, the FAA’s official site gives public updates, safety statistics, and details about what is being done after incidents like the wingtip collision at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Flight Disruptions and Passenger Protection
When ground accidents like this happen, your travel plans might be affected. After the Alaska Airlines wingtip collision, passengers on both flights had to leave the planes and wait for new ones to be assigned. This led to delays, and some travelers may have missed connections or arrived late to their final destinations.
Most airlines, including Alaska Airlines, will quickly rebook passengers when a plane is taken out of service. They may also offer hotel stays or meal vouchers if delays are extended. While these solutions cannot fix the worry or inconvenience, they help reduce the impact. Still, many travelers wish for more information during such events, especially about why delays occur and how long they will last.
The Human Factor: Training and Fatigue
One challenge with ground incidents is that, unlike high-tech aircraft systems, basic human actions still play a big role. Mistakes can happen if someone is tired, distracted, or unsure of exactly what to do. That’s why airlines and airports are reviewing shift schedules, pushing for shorter or more frequent breaks, and encouraging workers to report any problems or near-misses during ground operations.
These steps can help prevent problems before they turn into accidents. Most safety experts agree that a “safety first” culture, where anyone, no matter their job title, can point out risks or suggest changes, is one of the best ways to improve overall safety.
Why All Travelers Should Care
Ground accidents like the wingtip collision at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport may not get the same headlines as a major mid-air emergency, but they can have serious consequences. Planes are expensive, repairs can take days, and delays affect thousands of people. Even though nobody was hurt in this event, increased risks on the ground could lead to injuries or worse if not handled carefully.
As summer travel begins to ramp up, airlines and airports must work harder than ever to protect passengers, staff, and planes. These recent events shine a light on the importance of even the smallest details when it comes to airport safety. For travelers, it is worth paying attention to any official announcements and following airline staff directions during boarding, deplaning, or unexpected delays.
What Happens Next?
The FAA’s investigation into the May 17 wingtip collision is ongoing, and results are expected in the coming weeks. Based on what is found, further safety recommendations could be made. The airline may change training steps or require more supervision at gates during busy times of day.
In the bigger picture, aviation leaders may begin talking about how gates are spaced, how ground crews are scheduled, and how technology can help prevent more wingtip collisions at airports like Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. These changes may not stop every incident, but they can help reduce risks.
Conclusion: Neighboring Gates, Shared Responsibility
The wingtip collision at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is a clear reminder that crowded gates and busy schedules raise the stakes for everyone involved. While Alaska Airlines acted quickly to protect passengers and fix the problem, the event shows the value of careful ground work at every level.
Travelers may not see the planning that keeps planes and people safe on the ground, but the consequences affect all of us. With ongoing investigations, updated technology, and better awareness, airports aim to keep travel delays, costs, and—above all—risks as low as possible. For now, paying attention to safety is just as important before takeoff as it is once a plane is in the sky.
Learn Today
Wingtip Collision → An incident where the tips of two aircraft wings touch or strike each other, usually during ground movements.
Pushback → The procedure where a specialized ground vehicle moves an aircraft away from its gate before takeoff.
Runway Incursion → Any unauthorized presence of an aircraft, vehicle, or person on an active airport runway, posing collision risks.
FAA Investigation → A formal review conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration after aviation safety incidents to determine causes and improvements.
Ground Crew → Airport staff responsible for servicing, moving, and guiding airplanes while on the ground, especially during boarding and pushback.
This Article in a Nutshell
A rare wingtip collision between two Alaska Airlines jets at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on May 17, 2025, spotlights airport ground safety. With rising incidents nationwide, aviation authorities are reviewing training, technology, and protocols to prevent costly accidents and protect travelers as air traffic intensifies this summer travel season.
— By VisaVerge.com
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