Alaska Airlines Grounds Boeing 737-9 Fleet Following Midair Incident
In a sudden move, Alaska Airlines suspended all operations of its Boeing 737-9 aircraft late Friday evening. This decision came hours after a harrowing incident where a window and a piece of the fuselage on one of these planes ruptured mid-flight, necessitating an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries reported.
The alarming event unfolded shortly after the plane’s ascent, as a significant hole caused rapid cabin depressurization. Flight data indicated that the aircraft reached an altitude of 16,000 feet (4,876 meters) before it was compelled to return to Portland International Airport. Onboard were 174 passengers and six crew members, all of whom landed safely.
FAA Reacts to Alaska Airlines’ Boeing 737-9 Max Emergency Landing
Alaska Airlines’ CEO Ben Minicucci expressed his deep concern in a statement, “Following the distressing incident on Flight 1282, we’ve taken the prudent measure of temporarily grounding our 65-strong Boeing 737-9 fleet.” He extended his sympathies to those aboard the affected flight.
The airline plans to resume service for each aircraft only after thorough safety inspections and maintenance checks, a process Minicucci expects to complete in the coming days.
“We are actively collaborating with Boeing and regulatory authorities to ascertain the cause of this incident and will provide updates as we gather more information,” Minicucci added.
Though the airline initially did not disclose injury details, KPTV later reported that the Port of Portland confirmed minor injuries were treated at the scene by the fire department. One individual was taken for further medical attention but was not critically injured.
The flight, which took off at 5:07 p.m., was diverted just six minutes later, FlightAware’s tracking data revealed. The pilot declared an emergency due to depressurization, as captured in a LiveATC.net recording, and requested an immediate return to Portland, landing at 5:26 p.m.
Passenger Recounts Terrifying Midair Experience on Alaska Airlines Flight
Passengers experienced tense moments during the incident. Evan Smith, a passenger, recounted to KATU-TV the sudden loud noise and rapid deployment of oxygen masks. He noted a particularly startling occurrence where a young boy’s shirt was sucked out of the aircraft through the broken window.
Ongoing Investigations and Boeing’s Response
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration have initiated an investigation into the incident.
The aircraft, which had only been in service since receiving FAA certification two months prior, had completed 145 flights, as per FlightRadar24 data. This flight was its third journey of the day.
Boeing has acknowledged the incident and is in the process of collecting further details, affirming its commitment to support the ongoing investigation.
The Boeing 737 Max, a recent addition to the renowned 737 series, is a mainstay in U.S. domestic aviation. Following two catastrophic crashes involving 737-8 Max jets in 2018 and 2019, which led to 346 fatalities, the entire 737-8 and 737-9 fleet was grounded worldwide for nearly two years. The fleet was cleared for operation after Boeing made essential modifications to the automated flight control system linked to the crashes.
Recent issues with the 737 Max series include FAA advisories to pilots on restricted use of certain systems under dry conditions and manufacturing defects leading to intermittent delivery halts.
Boeing’s Commitment to Safety and Continuous Monitoring
As the investigation into the Alaska Airlines incident proceeds, Boeing’s focus remains on ensuring the safety and reliability of its aircraft. The aviation community eagerly awaits the outcomes of these inquiries to reinforce the safety standards of commercial air travel.
Boeing issued the following statement on Jan. 6: “Safety is our top priority and we deeply regret the impact this event has had on our customers and their passengers. We agree with and fully support the FAA’s decision to require immediate inspections of 737-9 airplanes with the same configuration as the affected airplane. In addition, a Boeing technical team is supporting the NTSB’s investigation into last night’s event. We will remain in close contact with our regulator and customers.”
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, npr.org, boeing.com