Passenger photographs and videos captured a gaping breach in the side of the aircraft adjacent to the seats, where oxygen masks were deployed.
Photo and video footage showed a large aperture near the aircraft’s seating, where oxygen masks were placed.
Evan Smith, an Alaska Airlines passenger, reported that a boy and his mother were seated in the row where the window ruptured, and the boy’s shirt was wrenched off and expelled from the aircraft.
“A loud explosion was heard emanating from the left rear. A whooshing sound prompted the immediate deployment of all oxygen masks, and everyone donned one,” he reported to the local broadcaster KATU.
Photo and video footage showed a large aperture near the aircraft’s seating, where oxygen masks were placed.
Since then, the airline has stopped all Boeing 737-9 MAX planes because the massive hole depressurized the cabin.
Boeing “fully supports” US regulators’ grounding of 170 aircraft and their inspections of comparable aircraft.
The Boeing 737-9 MAX was diverted approximately six minutes after takeoff at 5:07 p.m., after reaching 16,000 feet, according to flight tracking data from FlightAware. At 5:26 p.m., it executed an emergency landing at Portland International Airport.
Alaska Airlines reported that the aircraft carrying 171 passengers and six crew members landed securely.
Incident Investigation: Aircraft Emergency Landing
Flight from Portland to Ontario, California “was involved in an incident shortly after takeoff this evening,” airline said.
Although such an event is uncommon, our flight crew was adequately prepared and well-trained to handle it in a safe manner.
The airline provided no information regarding injuries; however, local broadcaster KPTV reported that the Port of Portland stated that the fire department responded and treated minor injuries at the scene; one person was transported for treatment but was not gravely injured, and no further details were provided.
The aircraft landed successfully, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), after the crew reported a pressurisation issue. It declared that an investigation would be conducted.
The adjacent seat is devoid of its cushion, revealing insulation material in the vicinity of the void.
Photographs of the exterior indicate that the rear mid-cabin evacuation door became detached from the aircraft during takeoff.
“Activated in dense seating configurations to meet evacuation requirements” is the function of a rear cabin door located behind the wings on the MAX 9, according to FlightRadar24. However, on Alaska Airlines aircraft, these doors are perpetually “plugged” or deactivated.
FAA records show Boeing 737-9 MAX certified, assembled less than two months ago.
FlightRadar24 reports that since its introduction into commercial service on November 11, it had been utilised on 145 flights. The Portland voyage constituted the third of the day for the aircraft.
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Regulatory Response and Grounding
The British aviation authority is “closely monitoring the situation.”
A post on X stated that the National Transport Safety Board was conducting an investigation into the incident.
Also a British Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson stated, “We are fully informed of this incident and are closely monitoring the situation.”
Ben Minicucci, chief executive officer of Alaska Airlines, stated that each Boeing 737-9 MAX would not be returned to service until it had undergone comprehensive safety and maintenance examinations, which he expected the airline to finish within days.
He stated, “As a precautionary measure in light of the incident that occurred tonight on Flight 1282. We have decided to temporarily ground our fleet of 65 Boeing 737-9 aircraft.”
I feel terrible for folks on this aircraft.
We are collaborating with Boeing and regulatory bodies to gain a comprehensive understanding of the events that transpired tonight. We will provide further updates as we receive more information.
