A Boeing 737-900ER operated by Alaska Airlines diverted back to Seattle following depressurization.
The Alaska Airlines flight AS825 departed Seattle Int’l Airport in the morning of Tuesday, June 3 2025 to Kahului, Hawaii.
The flight path
The Boeing 737-900ER (registration N462AS) climbed to 34,000 cruising altitude over the Pacific. But 30 minutes into the flight, the crew detected a loss of cabin pressure and made the flight to turn around for a quick descent to 8,600 feet.
Alaska Airlines Flight 825 returned safely to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport around 11 a.m. local time on Tuesday, June 3, after the crew reported a pressurization issue. The Boeing 737-900 was headed to Kahului International Airport in Hawaii. The FAA will investigate.
Depressurization procedure
When pilots of a commercial flight experience a loss of cabin pressure, it’s a serious emergency that requires immediate action:
- At around 14,000 feet, the aircraft’s system automatically deploys oxygen masks for passengers and cabin crew.
- Pilots have pressurized oxygen masks in the cockpit and must put them on immediately to stay conscious.
- Passengers must immediately put on the masks and breathe normally—they only supply oxygen for about 12–20 minutes, enough time to descend to a safe altitude.
- Pilots initiate an emergency descent to 10,000 feet or lower, where the air is breathable.
- The descent is rapid (often at 4,000–6,000 feet per minute) and may feel abrupt to passengers, but it’s necessary for safety.
The flight AS825 landed safely on runway 34R back at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport. A replacement Boeing 737-900 (registration N468AS) arrived in Kahului with a six-hour delay.
Same aircraft suffered an incident the day before
According to a source, the Boeing 737-900ER operating the flight suffered an incident on Monday. A nose gear was sucked into the right engine of the aircraft.
The plane returned to the gate and resumed the flight to St. Louis Lambert International Airport few hours later.
