Portland, Oregon – An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 was forced to make an emergency landing after a section of its fuselage, including a window, fell off mid-air. The incident occurred during a flight to California, prompting the plane to return to Portland just 35 minutes after takeoff. Fortunately, all 177 passengers and crew on board landed safely. Alaska Airlines has now temporarily grounded all 65 of its 737 Max 9 aircraft for inspections.
Boeing, the manufacturer of the aircraft, acknowledged the incident and stated that they are working to gather more information. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also confirmed that they are closely monitoring the situation. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the incident.
The affected section of the aircraft appears to be an area that can serve as an additional emergency exit door for some operators, although not for Alaska Airlines. Images sent to news outlets show the night sky visible through the gap in the fuselage, along with insulation material and other debris. Passengers also reported the seat closest to the affected section leaning forward without its cushion.
The Boeing 737 Max has faced significant scrutiny due to a series of safety issues and investigations. In 2019, the aircraft was grounded for a year-and-a-half following two fatal crashes. To resume flights, the Max planes underwent extensive modifications, which are not visible to passengers.
Alaska Airlines CEO, Ben Minicucci, expressed relief that the emergency landing was safely executed and commended the efforts of the crew. He assured passengers that each aircraft would only return to service after undergoing thorough maintenance and safety inspections.
As investigations continue, it is crucial to note that this incident occurred on a specific Alaska Airlines flight and not on all Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft.