Travel
On a recent Alaska Airlines flight, a harrowing incident occurred when a plug covering an unused exit door blew off the Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft at approximately 16,000 feet. This event, which happened about six minutes into the flight, led to a rapid loss of cabin pressure and forced the plane to make an emergency landing back in Portland, Oregon.
Incident Details
Flight Path and Incident: Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 took off from Portland International Airport at 5:07 p.m. on a Friday, bound for Ontario, California. Just six minutes into the flight, the door plug suddenly detached, creating a gaping hole in the fuselage. The plane was at about 16,000 feet when this occurred14.
Emergency Response: Following the incident, the pilots declared an emergency and descended to 10,000 feet to ensure passengers could breathe without oxygen masks. Despite the chaotic scene, no serious injuries were reported among the 171 passengers and six crew members14.
Passenger Experiences: Videos shared by passengers showed the dramatic scene inside the cabin, with wind blowing in through the hole and oxygen masks deployed. Passengers described the initial shock and fear, but also praised the crew for their professionalism during the emergency4.
Aftermath
Grounding of Boeing 737 Max 9s: In response to the incident, the FAA grounded all Boeing 737 Max 9s equipped with similar door plugs until further inspections could be conducted. This affected flights operated by Alaska Airlines and United Airlines14.
Compensation for Passengers: Alaska Airlines offered passengers a compensation package, including $1,500 and a full refund on their tickets. However, some legal experts considered this amount inadequate given the distressing nature of the incident3.
Investigation: The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the incident. During inspections of other Max 9 jets, loose bolts on door plugs were discovered, raising concerns about the aircraft's safety4.
Unique Aspects of the Incident
iPhone Found Intact: In a remarkable twist, an iPhone that was likely sucked out of the plane during the incident was found on the ground, still in working condition. The phone was discovered in airplane mode, open to a baggage claim number for Alaska Airlines Flight 128216.
This incident highlights the importance of rigorous safety inspections and the need for airlines to ensure that their aircraft are in optimal condition before each flight.
Sources:
Katherine Sharp, WTimes 1 LiveNowFox: Man finds iPhone 'perfectly intact' that likely fell 16,000 feet from Alaska Airlines flight 2 Beat of Hawaii: Hawaii Flight Incident Just Exposed Gaping Holes in Airline Safety 3 RadarOnline: Alaska Airlines Passengers Offered 'Inadequate' Compensation 4 ABC7: Alaska Airlines flight video: New footage shows SoCal-bound plane in mid-flight after door plug blows off above Portland 5 VisionSafe: Recent smoke in the cockpit events 6 Global News: iPhone sucked out of Alaska Airlines plane found still working