Alaska Airlines flight AS1282 returns to Portland after a depressurization just after takeoff
Photo Source: @Bricaul on X
Alaska Airlines temporarily grounded its Boeing 737-9 Max fleet following an emergency landing in Oregon on Friday. The incident, involving flight AS1282 from Portland to Ontario, California, occurred around 5 p.m. PT when the crew reported a pressurization issue, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Photo Source: @Bricaul on X
The aircraft involved in the incident is a Boeing 737-9 Max (Registration N704AL) that was delivered to Alaska Airlines on October 31st, 2023.
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Our data indicates that the aircraft reached a maximum height of 16,300 feet before returning safely to Portland. All 171 passengers and 6 crew members are reported to be safe.
Alaska Airlines flight AS1282 from Portland to Ontario (Track Log)
To meet evacuation certification requirements, the Boeing 737-9 MAX aircraft has an additional emergency exit located halfway between the overwing exits and the rear left passenger exits. However, due to the lower passenger capacity on Alaska Airlines' aircraft, the mid-cabin exit doors are permanently plugged.
Kyle Rinker described the abrupt detachment of a fuselage panel, including the window, shortly after takeoff. The panel's separation went unnoticed until the deployment of oxygen masks. Emergency services responded to minor injuries upon landing, with no serious injuries reported.
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A passenger's video posted on social media reveals the missing fuselage section, exposing passengers to outside air. According to the FAA, in collaboration with Boeing, Alaska Airlines is investigating the incident on the 737 Max 9, certified on October 25, 2023.
Source: The Oregonian
The airline plans to subject its grounded fleet of 65 Boeing 737-9 aircraft to maintenance and safety inspections before resuming service. Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci expressed sympathy for affected passengers, emphasizing that the incident is thoroughly investigated. At 11:40 p.m., Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci issued a statement:
"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. I am personally committed to doing everything we can to conduct this review in a timely and transparent way.
We are working with Boeing and regulators to understand what occurred tonight, and will share updates as more information is available. The NTSB is investigating this event, and we will fully support their investigation.
My heart goes out to those who were on this flight – I am so sorry for what you experienced. I am so grateful for the response of our pilots and flight attendants. We have teams on the ground in Portland assisting passengers and are working to support guests who are traveling in the days ahead."
While details of the incident remain undisclosed, the airline confirmed the safe landing of flight AS1282 with 171 passengers and six crew members. The 20-minute flight departed Portland International Airport at 5:07 p.m. and landed at 5:27 p.m., as reported by RadarBox.
Alaska Airlines flight AS1282 from Portland to Ontario
Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate the incident, with Boeing also acknowledging its awareness of the situation and commitment to gathering additional information.
The FAA is requiring immediate inspections of certain Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes before they can return to flight. And The FAA has issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive. Read more here.
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