Snow, Japan Airlines incident delays more than 100 flights at Sea-Tac Airport

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport faced significant travel disruptions on Wednesday due to a combination of winter weather and an aircraft incident, resulting in 193 flight delays and 28 cancellations. A Japan Airlines plane collided with a parked Delta aircraft while taxiing, but fortunately, no injuries were reported, and passengers were safely deplaned. With winter storms expected to continue, travelers are urged to check flight updates and familiarize themselves with airline rebooking policies to mitigate the impact of further delays. Alaska Airlines and Horizon were particularly affected, showcasing a troubling pattern of operational challenges at the airport. The FAA has documented at least 30 runway incursions at Sea-Tac since January 2019, including serious near-miss incidents that highlight ongoing safety concerns.

In response to these issues, the FAA initiated an audit of runway operations at the nation's busiest airports last year. As winter weather persists, passengers are advised to take proactive measures, such as booking early morning flights and signing up for flight alerts. For the latest updates, travelers should check with their airlines and visit flySEA. org for additional information.