SEATTLE- A federal lawsuit has been filed in Seattle representing passengers injured when a Japan Airlines (JL) plane struck a Delta Air Lines (DL) aircraft at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) on February 5, 2025.
The Herrmann Law Group filed the complaint detailing how the JAL aircraft, arriving from Tokyo, collided with a stationary Delta plane during taxiing operations.
Photo: UnknownDelta Japan Airlines Sued for Crash
According to attorney Herrmann, “The JAL plane had just landed on a flight from Tokyo. While taxiing to the gate, its right wing struck the tail fin of the Delta plane, jolting it forward and to the right in a twisting motion. Multiple videos clearly show the collision.”
The incident occurred at approximately 10:17 a.m. in an area between the S Concourse and the south airport maintenance hangars. SEA Airport officials previously confirmed to KOMO News that an inbound Japan Airlines aircraft “appears to have struck the tail of a parked Delta Air Lines aircraft” on the ramp.
Delta Air Lines representatives reported their Boeing 737 was preparing for departure to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, with 142 passengers aboard at the time of impact.
Legal documents identify a married couple and their two young daughters as having sustained injuries during the collision, forming the basis for the legal action.
Photo: Aero Icarus | FlickrLawsuit Details Injuries
Court documents emphasize the severity of the impact, stating, “Considering that the JAL aircraft, fully loaded with passengers, luggage, other cargo, and remaining fuel had to weigh in excess of 150 tons, coupled with the fact that it struck the Delta aircraft sideways producing a twisting impact on the passengers, it is no wonder that many of the passengers suffered serious spinal sprains and strains.”
The legal complaint explains that these injuries typically developed one to two days after the incident and progressively worsened, disrupting the family’s vacation plans. The filing highlights additional trauma experienced by one plaintiff, noting, “Further, [the mother] was holding her baby while tending to her other child when the plane was struck. Given the recent spate of horrible air crashes, their experience was emotionally terrifying as well.”
The Herrmann Law Group represents the plaintiffs, bringing significant aviation litigation experience including previous representation of victims in the 1983 Korean Air (KE) flight KAL 007 shootdown and Boeing Max air crashes.
Attorney Herrmann clarified that the case falls under the Montreal Convention of 1999, which entitles each passenger to compensation up to approximately $200,000 without requiring proof of fault.
The attorney further explained, “The Montreal treaty also unusually provides that for injuries in excess of the $200,000 limit, it is Delta that must prove that it was not at fault in the accident, that it was entirely JAL’s fault or the fault of some other third party such as ground crews or even the Air Traffic Control.”
Herrmann expressed confidence that the National Transportation Safety Board investigation, combined with their independent inquiry, will determine responsibility for the collision.
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