Alaska Airlines Cancels Flights After Boeing Plane Door Blowout
Alaska Airlines has announced the cancellation of all flights on Boeing 737-9 Max aircraft through Jan. 13 after a mid-air blowout forced an emergency landing in Portland. The incident occurred on flight 1282, which had been bound for Ontario, California, and experienced depressurization soon after departing from Portland, Oregon.
Passengers were left startled as they clutched oxygen masks with a gaping hole in the plane. The terrifying ordeal was captured on several videos shared by passengers online. No serious injuries were reported, but the explosive depressurization forced the flight crew to make an emergency landing back in Portland.
The door panel, which covers an extra emergency exit, blew off just minutes after takeoff at approximately 16,000 feet. The door plug, considered a key component, was recovered from a Portland school teacher’s backyard.
Alaska Airlines has temporarily grounded its fleet of 65 737-9 Max aircraft after the incident. “We regret the significant disruption that has been caused for our guests by cancellations due to these aircraft being out of service. However, the safety of our employees and guests is our highest priority,” the airline said in an online update.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation of the incident with support from Alaska’s safety and technical teams and Boeing representatives. NTSB officials said they were investigating whether the door panel was properly bolted.
Alaska Airlines has stated that inspections will only begin once all documentation from Boeing and the FAA is received, and all findings have been fully resolved and meet all FAA and Alaska’s stringent standards.
The airline notes that as a party to the NTSB investigation, the FAA works to ensure that inspection details address any findings that may have surfaced during this process, even if not yet shared with the public.
The cancellation of flights on the 737-9 Max aircraft equates to between 110 and 150 flights per day, impacting numerous passengers. The airline is working around the clock to re-accommodate affected guests on other flights and has assured the public that they are focused on resolving this issue and ensuring the safety of their fleet before returning to service.