Alaska Airlines has announced the temporary grounding of its 65 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft following an emergency landing on Friday. The decision was made by CEO Ben Minicucci as a precautionary measure after a cabin panel blowout on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, which was en route to Ontario, California. The incident occurred shortly after takeoff from Portland, Oregon, and the plane returned safely at 5:26 p.m. Pacific Time with 171 passengers and six crew members on board.
The emergency landing was necessitated by a panel separation near a rear mid-cabin exit door, leading to depressurization. This was evidenced in social media posts showing a missing window and part of the airplane’s side wall, as well as deployed oxygen masks. Alaska Airlines assured that such occurrences are rare and their crew is well-trained to handle such situations.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration have both initiated investigations into the incident. Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, has also stated its awareness of the situation and is in communication with Alaska Airlines to support the investigation.
The Boeing 737 MAX 9 involved in the incident was a recent addition to the Alaska Airlines fleet, having been delivered and certified just months prior. The aircraft features a rear cabin door inherited from the 737-900ER model, but this door is permanently deactivated in Alaska Airlines’ jets.
The emergency has highlighted the crucial role of seatbelts in flight safety. Air safety expert Anthony Brickhouse emphasized the severity of the incident, pointing out the potential dangers for unbuckled passengers during rapid decompression.
This incident comes as Boeing continues to face scrutiny over its 737 MAX series, which was grounded globally for 20 months following two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019. The company recently advised inspections of all 737 MAX airplanes for a possible issue in the rudder control system. The FAA is closely monitoring these inspections and has not ruled out further actions if necessary.