Jet Makes Rough Landing When Nose Gear Collapses Alaska Airlines Flight From Mexico Was Destined For Spokane

The nose gear on an Alaska Airlines jet collapsed after the plane landed at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Monday night, causing a rough landing and forcing passengers to use emergency slides to exit, an airline spokesman said.

Several people were taken to area hospitals with minor injuries, the Federal Aviation Administration said. KOMO-TV in Seattle said 15 people had been hurt.

Flight 255 originated in Puerto Vallarta and traveled through Los Angeles. It was due to land at Sea-Tac en route to its final destination at Spokane, Alaska Airlines spokesman Lou Cancelmi said.

The plane landed without incident but at some point before it stopped rolling, the nosegear collapsed, he said.

The cause remains under investigation.

The plane carried 111 passengers and five crew members, including three flight attendants, Cancelmi said.

Everyone aboard the plane was evacuated with the use of slides, he said.

Cancelmi said “It’s not untypical when you use slides to evacuate people … for people to receive some cuts and bruises.”

The airport closed for about 10 minutes and the aircraft remained on runway 16 Left Monday night, Cancelmi said.

“I don’t have any indication as to when the aircraft will be removed from the that location,” he said.

The accident occurred about 9 p.m., about 10 minutes after the plane’s expected arrival, he said.

He did not know what damage was done to the plane.