Crash at Sea-Tac Airport comes as curbside safety improvements are being made
The airport is completing half of its year-long Curb Safety and Accessibility Project.
SEATAC, Wash. — On the afternoon of May 17, three people were injured after an SUV unintentionally accelerated and plowed into the curbside departures area at Sea-Tac Airport.
The Port of Seattle said all three people were seriously injured and taken to an area hospital. One of them is a 4-year-old who was listed in critical condition at Harborview Medical Center on May 18.
The accident happened when Sea-Tac Airport was about to be completed half a year Project safety and curbside accessibility.
Craig Fischer, a passenger living in Tacoma, said: “I know they’re doing research around here and it’s clearly necessary to do so.
Part of almost $23 million project including bollards installed along the arrival level, separating the curb area from the road. The airport said this was only planned to be done along the arrivals floor because that is where many people wait for long periods of time and due to the structure of the curb area. There are some fence posts placed on the departure floor, but mainly in places like the entrance to the station, not lining the road like in the destinations.
Fischer said he thought they were needed along the road at departure where the collision also occurred.
“Upstairs, departures are frantic, where traffic reconnects very quickly,” says Fischer.
The airport said it is planning to remove curbside sky check-in points, like the one where this crash happened, as part of a project expected to be completed in 2026 to reduce the number of people in the departure area at the curb.
The Curb Safety and Accessibility project is expected to be completed this fall.
As part of this project, all windows in the main terminal and overpass will be fitted with shatterproof windows for added safety, according to the project website. Steel stakes are being installed at the entrances to all the overhead bridges on the garage side and along the courtesy vehicular square. The stakes are being installed to ensure the safety and security of all tourists, staff and volunteers. The project’s website says the accessibility and security improvements are part of the recommendations of the Accessibility Study completed by the Open Doors Foundation as well as an agreement with the FAA.
The airport said it is continuing to evaluate all safety improvements and that it has sent evaluators to assess the results after the crash on May 17.
