Alaska Airlines flight makes emergency landing after section of plane detached.
Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 heading from Portland to Ontario, California turns back around and makes an emergency landing (safely) at Portland airport (PDX) after panel of disabled exit blows out.
171 passengers and 6 crew members were on board the Boeing 737 MAX 9 (reg. N704AL) which has been delivered only two months ago.
Footage showing one of the passenger window panels blown out.
#BREAKING #AlaskaAirlines Flight 1282 (737-MAX 9) heading from Portland to Ontario, California turns back around and makes an emergency landing (safely) at Portland airport (PDX) after panel on side of plane blows out!
The flight included 171 passengers and 6 crew members.… pic.twitter.com/FdgomhbyzQ— Rula El Halabi (@Rulaelhalabi) January 6, 2024
Passenger Elizabeth Le. said “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 said: 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 NTSB said: NTSB is investigating an event involving Alaska Airlines Flight 1282. We will post any updates regarding the investigation when they are available.
Alaska Airlines is grounding its grounding its 65 Boeing 737 MAX 9 fleet.
The flight #AS1282 climbed to 14,500 ft then returned to Portland after only 22 minutes in the air.