According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Japan Airlines Flight 68’s right wing “made contact” with Delta Airlines Flight 1921’s tail. Initial FAA reports suggested both planes were taxiing at the time, but the airport later clarified that only the Japan Airlines aircraft was moving when the accident occurred.

JUST IN: Japan Airlines plane hits Delta Air Lines jet while taxiing at Seattle Airport pic.twitter.com/ZfuMcysCkz

— BNO News (@BNONews) February 5, 2025

Delta Airlines Flight 1921 was preparing to take off from Seattle to Puerto Vallarta with 142 passengers aboard, while the Japan Airlines plane had just arrived from Tokyo, according to CBS News.

Delta acknowledged the mishap, stating, “While in sequence for deicing, the tail of a Delta 737 aircraft reportedly made contact with a wing tip of another airline’s aircraft. There are no reports of injuries for crew or customers on the flight, and we apologize for the experience and delay in travels,” the airline told Daily Mail.

The FAA noted that the area where the minor collision happened was not under air traffic control at the time. While the incident briefly halted some flights, Seattle–Tacoma International Airport reassured travellers that it had only a “minimal impact” on overall operations, since the accident took place in a designated taxi lane.