On Wednesday afternoon, two Alaska Airlines personnel maneuvered an aircraft into a ditch while relocating a Boeing 737 at Ted Stevens Airport in Anchorage. According to the Department of Transportation, the Alaska Airlines taxiway incident happened at approximately 1:43 p.m., and no passengers or casualties were on board the aircraft.
Shannon McCarthy, the DOT’s communications director, described the situation as a minor level-one incident and clarified its low severity. “These kinds of incidents do happen from time to time,” McCarthy explained, adding that no disruptions to airport operations were reported.
Alaska Airlines spokesperson Tim Thompson stated that the maintenance team was maneuvering the 737 to park when it inadvertently exited a taxiway. He noted that the airline assesses whether any damage occurred to the aircraft and will cooperate fully with authorities.
The mishap’s location in a testing area at the airport ensured no impact on flights or other operations, McCarthy stated. Immediately reporting the situation allowed for a swift response, minimizing potential complications.
Alaska Airlines controls the plans for removing the plane, but officials have yet to provide a specific timeline for retrieval. The condition of the Boeing 737 remains unknown, as inspections are ongoing.
The Alaska Airlines taxiway incident highlights the occasional challenges faced during aircraft maintenance and repositioning. Fortunately, the location of the incident prevented any significant disruptions. The plane’s final removal and detailed evaluation will clarify further questions.
This news article was originally published by Alaska’s News Source.
