Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, en route from Portland to Ontario, California, was forced to make an emergency landing at Portland Airport (PDX) after a section of the plane detached mid-flight. The incident involved the panel of a deactivated exit blowing out, causing the flight to turn back and land safely at the originating airport.
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The aircraft in question was a Boeing 737 MAX 9 (registration N704AL), a model that had been delivered to the airline just two months prior to the incident. The flight was carrying 171 passengers and 6 crew members at the time. Footage from the incident showed one of the passenger window panels blown out. A passenger on the flight, Elizabeth Le, recounted the terrifying moment, stating, “There was no one in the window seat but a mom and her teenage son sitting [on] the aisle, the mother apparently saved her son from getting pulled out of the plane”.
Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, has acknowledged the incident, stating, "We are aware of the incident involving Alaska Airlines Flight AS1282. 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." The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) also confirmed that they are investigating the event involving Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 and will post updates regarding the investigation when they are available.
In response to the incident, Alaska Airlines has decided to ground its fleet of 65 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft. Flight AS1282 had climbed to 14,500 feet before returning to Portland, spending only 22 minutes in the air. This incident underscores the importance of stringent safety measures and thorough investigations in ensuring the safety of air travel. As more information becomes available, it will be crucial to understand what led to this incident and how similar occurrences can be prevented in the future.