Coyote on runway briefly delays flight at Paine Field

Published 1:56 pm Friday, January 10, 2020

EVERETT — It wasn’t snow or sleet that briefly delayed a passenger flight Friday at Paine Field, but a coyote that had wandered onto the runway.

The wild canine was spotted Friday morning in an area where planes are moving, airport spokesman Scott North said.

By the time airport staff got there to investigate, the interloper had taken off.

The coyote was not harmed, North said.

There was a delay, he said, but “we’re talking minutes in terms of a delay.”

The Snohomish County airport contracts with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services to assist in minimizing collisions involving wildlife and aircraft.