Alaska Airlines Grounds Boeing 737-9 Planes After Emergency Landing
Washington – Alaska Airlines has temporarily grounded its fleet of Boeing 737-9 planes after a recent flight encountered an emergency landing in Oregon. The incident involved a plane window panel blowing out shortly after takeoff, with 177 passengers onboard. The decision to ground the fleet was made as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of passengers.
Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci stated, 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. He further added, Each aircraft will be returned to service only after completion of full maintenance and safety inspections. The airline anticipates that these checks will be concluded within a few days.
Kyle Rinker, a passenger on the affected flight, recounted the terrifying experience. He mentioned that a window suddenly popped off after the aircraft reached altitude. It was really abrupt. Just got to altitude, and the window/wall just popped off and didn’t notice it until the oxygen masks came off, Rinker told CNN.
Another passenger, Linda Nguyen, shared her astonishment. I open up my eyes and the first thing I see is the oxygen mask right in front of me, she said. And I look to the left and the wall on the side of the plane is gone. Nguyen recalls feeling a moment of panic, thinking, ‘I’m going to die.’
Alaska Airlines, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have all initiated investigations into the incident. The airline assured the public of its flight crew’s preparedness and reaffirmed that incidents like this are rare. While this type of occurrence is rare, our flight crew was trained and prepared to safely manage the situation, said the airline in an earlier statement.
On the other hand, Boeing expressed its commitment to assisting with the investigation. The company stated that it was gathering more information and had a technical team ready to support the ongoing inquiries. Alaska Airlines maintained that it was collaborating with Boeing and regulatory authorities to comprehensively understand the events that transpired.
The airline confirmed that the flight, carrying 171 passengers and 6 crew members, made a safe landing back at Portland International Airport following the incident. Ultimately, the priority remains the safety and well-being of all passengers, and Alaska Airlines is taking the necessary steps to ensure the thorough inspection and maintenance of their grounded aircraft.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of continuous safety measures in the aviation industry. As investigations progress, it is expected that further details will emerge, shedding light on the cause of the window panel’s detachment. A comprehensive review will help prevent similar occurrences in the future and uphold the paramount objective of passenger safety.
