In a scary moment for 171 passengers travelling onboard the Flight 1282, the door of a Boeing 737 MAX 9 blew out mid-air. The incident happened shortly after takeoff from the Portland International Airport, when the door of the Alaska Airlines flight blew mid-air, creating a gaping hole that caused the cabin to depressurise. The plane had reportedly climbed to 16,000 feet before returning to the airport.
Also read: Japan Airlines Airbus A350 Plane Catches Fire At Tokyo Airport
All 174 passengers and six crew members onboard the flight landed back safely. Following the incident, Alaska Airlines has grounded its entire fleet of 65 Boeing 737-9 aircraft. This incident again raises questions on Boeing 737 MAX family, which had a troubled history after 2 crashes in 2018 and 2019.
Alaska Airlines Statement
In a statement released on Saturday, the airlines said, “At Alaska Airlines, safety is our foundational value and the most important thing we focus on every day. Following tonight’s event on Flight 1282, we have decided to take the precautionary step of temporarily grounding our fleet of 65 Boeing 737-9 aircraft.
Each aircraft will be returned to service only after completion of full maintenance and safety inspections. We anticipate all inspections will be completed in the next few days.”
Flight 1282 and our next steps with the Boeing MAX-9: https://t.co/LFxJvQYNcA pic.twitter.com/oemRokr1tz
— Alaska Airlines (@AlaskaAir) January 6, 2024
What Boeing Said
In a statement, Boeing said they ar eworking to understand the issue. “We are aware of the incident involving Alaska Airlines Flight 1282. We are working to gather more information and are in contact with our airline customer. A Boeing technical team stands ready to support the investigation,” said Boeing.
Also read: Scary Moment As Plane Struggles To Land At London Airport Amid Strong Crosswind
US FAA Statement
The US Transportation Safety Board said it was investigating a depressurisation incident that forced an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 to make an emergency landing. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that the crew reported a pressurisation issue and that it would investigate.
BREAKING: Alaska Airlines plane makes emergency landing in Portland, Oregon after window blows out in mid-air.
Several items, including phones, were sucked out of the plane when it suddenly depressurized. Everyone is safe. pic.twitter.com/BtOB1RU3tn
— BNO News (@BNONews) January 6, 2024
Boeing 737 MAX Aircraft
The Boeing 737 MAX is the newest version of the US plane maker’s successful 737 series of narrow body, twin-engine plane. Boeing introduced the 737 MAX series in 2027 as more efficient and green alternative to older generation of 737 planes, without spending too much on pilot training.
However, in 2018 and 2019, two crashes involving the Boeing 737 MAX 8 occurred, killing all 346 people onboard these planes. The first incident happened in Ethiopia and the second in Indonesia, involving Lion Air. All 737 MAX planes were grounded for 20 months worldwide, with China taking the lead.
Last week, Boeing said it was urging airlines to inspect all 737 MAX airplanes for a possible loose bolt in the rudder control system. The Boeing 737 MAX 9 is another version of the plane, and was involved in the Alaska Airlines incident on Friday.