An Alaska Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing Friday night after its passenger window blew open.
The Boeing 737 Max was heading to Ontario, California w, when a large window busted open, causing severe depressurization.
Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci said in a statement:
“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.”
“My heart goes out to those who were on this flight – I am so sorry for what you experienced.”
Video footage showed the plane in the air with the window open as oxygen masks angled over passengers’ seats.
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🚨#BREAKING: Alaska Airlines Forced to Make an Emergency Landing After Large Aircraft Window Blows Out Mid-Air ⁰⁰📌#Portland | #Oregon
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) January 6, 2024
⁰A Forced emergency landing was made of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 at Portland International Airport on Friday night. The flight, traveling… pic.twitter.com/nt0FwmPALE
Audio footage was captured from the pilot who radioed for help after a window blew out shortly after take off.
“Portland approach, Alaska 1282 emergency! Aircraft is now leveling 12,000 in a left turn heading three four zero,” the unidentified woman could be heard saying.
“We need a divert. We’ve declared an emergency. We are depressurized. We have 177 passengers on board and a seal is…18,900′ the pilot can be heard explaining.”
The plane was traveling at roughly 16,000 feet when the window blew out, ripping off a child’s shirt from the pressure, the Daily Mail reported.
One passenger told KPTV a kid had to be held in his seat while some people’s phones were sucked out of the plane.
The Boeing 737-9 Max recently received a certification of approval in November from the Federal Aviation Administration, according to Daily Mail.
The flight managed to land in the Portland airport following the incident safely,
However, some passengers have already been rerouted to their intended destination.
So far, there have been no reported injuries.
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