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Inside SEA Airport: What led to baggage backups?
Hundreds of checked bags at Sea-Tac Airport hit a serious backup Sunday morning, sparking online outrage and questions on TikTok. After seeing these posts, FOX 13's Lauren Donovan went to the airport for answers.
SEATAC, Wash. - A surge in cruise ship passenger traffic combined with a mechanical failure in Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s (SEA) baggage system caused a significant backup of checked bags Sunday morning, triggering posts on TikTok and frustration among travelers.
The backstory:
The incident began around 9:20 a.m. when a segment of the airport’s 9-mile-long conveyor belt network tore. The damage occurred on a hand-tailored corner section—one of the more difficult components to replace, according to airport engineers. The compromised piece, fastened with grommets and chain links, required nearly an hour to repair.
"Overall, we don’t have many mechanical failures—we had one yesterday," said Erik Knowles with the Port of Seattle Aviation team. "It was a record day."
According to Knowles, the spike in volume came largely from cruise ship passengers disembarking from three vessels in Seattle. On a typical day, about 26,000 checked bags move through the system. On Sunday, that number soared to approximately 45,000.
"It’s not like they’re spread out over 24 hours," Knowles said. "The more ships, the more it beats our system."
What they're saying:
Initial speculation from social media users pointed to Sea-Tac’s newly automated bag drop system, but the issue occurred far below the terminal — within the airport’s sprawling baggage-handling infrastructure.
FOX 13 Seattle toured the facility and discovered a high-tech network of conveyor belts supported by overhead cameras and a real-time monitoring system. In the control room, a digital map displays the flow of baggage, changing color to signal any disruptions in traffic.
Despite the short duration of the malfunction, the high volume of bags caused a ripple effect throughout the airport, leaving hundreds of bags waiting for processing.
Airport officials say no further mechanical issues were reported and that operations have since returned to normal.
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