An Alaska Airlines 737-900ER mistakenly veered off a taxiway at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport on Wednesday, Jan. 8, ending up in a ditch. The incident occurred while a maintenance team was moving the plane to a parking location. Fortunately, there were no passengers on board, and no injuries were reported.
The company’s spokesman, Tim Thompson, described the incident as minor, mentioning that there was some damage to a wheel in the front landing gear of the aircraft. The state transportation department, responsible for the airport, confirmed that the mishap had no operational impact and was being handled by the airline. Despite recent weather conditions in Southcentral Alaska, ice on the runway was not a contributing factor to the accident.
Efforts were underway to extract the plane from the ditch, with the state transportation department assisting in coordinating the operation. Vehicles were dispatched to check for any fuel spillage, and once the aircraft is moved, inspectors will assess for further damage. The incident did not disrupt airport operations, and officials emphasized that it was an isolated occurrence.
Alaska Airlines was working to resolve the situation promptly, with safety being a top priority. Passengers and staff were unharmed, and the airline was taking necessary steps to address the situation and prevent such incidents in the future.
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