If you’re afraid of flying, just stop reading this now.
An Alaska Airlines flight made an emergency landing tonight after part of the plane flew the f*ck off DURING THE FLIGHT.
Flight 1282, which was scheduled to fly from Portland, Oregon to Ontario, California suffered a rapid depressurization after a door of the plane fell off during flight, causing the plane to have to return to Portland for an emergency landing.
When the wall of the plane just breaks off mid flight @AlaskaAir pic.twitter.com/pMWhpiHmFY
— Kyle Rinker (@Kyrinker) January 6, 2024
Video posted online shows the terrifying moments when the plane was returning to Portland with a giant hole in the side.
BREAKING: Alaska Airlines plane makes emergency landing in Portland, Oregon after window blows out in mid-air.
Several items, including phones, were sucked out of the plane when it suddenly depressurized. Everyone is safe. pic.twitter.com/BtOB1RU3tn
— BNO News (@BNONews) January 6, 2024
It was reported by other passengers on the flight that the seat beside the missing piece of the plane was sucked out, but that it was unoccupied.
One passenger interviewed at the airport said that a young child had to be held in his seat by his mom, and people lost their phones, which were sucked out of the plane.
Several people on board, the flight, reported that the airplane’s oxygen masks deployed immediately after the… pic.twitter.com/ExDri5qQaZ
— 🇺🇸 Larry 🇺🇸 (@LarryDJonesJr) January 6, 2024
A statement from Alaska Airlines indicates that all passengers and crew onboard are safe:
“AS1282 from Portland to Ontario, CA experienced an incident this evening soon after departure. The aircraft landed safely back at Portland International Airport with 171 guests and 6 crew members. We are investigating what happened and will share more as it becomes available.”
AS1282 from Portland to Ontario, CA experienced an incident this evening soon after departure. The aircraft landed safely back at Portland International Airport with 171 guests and 6 crew members. We are investigating what happened and will share more as it becomes available.
— Alaska Airlines (@AlaskaAir) January 6, 2024
The door on the plane that was blown out is reportedly not one that’s in use as an emergency exit door, and was sealed shut by the manufacturer when the airline received the plane.
According to that photo, it’s the mid-aft door that is missing. That door, for carriers like Alaska, is deactivated in the factory by Boeing before delivery. Passengers don’t even know it’s a door because it’s just a normal sidewall and window in the 737 Max 9 cabin. pic.twitter.com/b0Eb38cjI7
— Jon Ostrower (@jonostrower) January 6, 2024
It’s also being reported that the plane, a Boeing 737MAX, was just delivered to Alaska Airlines this past October.
Have reached out to both Alaska Airlines and Boeing on this. The aircraft involved was a brand new 737 Max 9 delivered to the airline at the end of October. This is an extremely hazardous and also rare occurrence. https://t.co/KeYfmFCLws
— Jon Ostrower (@jonostrower) January 6, 2024
Photos from PDX show the plane back at the airport and the clearly-missing door from the outside.
KGW posted the outside photo pic.twitter.com/P0KQuuMSg8
— John Slomnicki (@j_slomnicki) January 6, 2024
Boeing, which has been in hot water before over issues with their 737MAX aircraft, issued a statement that basically just said “we’re looking into it.”
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.
— Boeing Airplanes (@BoeingAirplanes) January 6, 2024
Absolute nightmare, but thank God everybody’s ok.
