Two Let Go Last Week After Minor Collision

Two ground crew contract workers are looking for new jobs after a plane they were pushing back from a gate at Sea-Tac airport bumped into a parked airplane, causing damage to both.

The workers were pushing back an Alaskan Airlines jet from the gate when one worker lost sight of the wing. That worker failed to tell the tug driver to stop, according to a spokesman for Menzies Aviation, which has a contract with Alaska Airlines for ground operations at the airport. The wing of the plane being pushed back from the gate with 139 people on board clipped the tail of a second, empty Alaska Airlines jet in the gate area.

Both the "wing walker" and the tug driver were let go following the incident. Passengers were taken off the Dallas-bound flight and put on another plane.

Sea-Tac Airport

The Seattle Times reports that both airplanes were Boeing 737-900's. A spokesman for Menzies said the airline has now issued a policy to not park two of the stretched 737's at the gates where the accident occurred at the same time.

FMI: www.menziesaviation.com