An Alaska Airlines flight took a terrifying turn when it had to make an emergency landing after takeoff from Portland, Oregon. Flight 1282, headed for California, faced a serious depressurisation issue after a window and part of the fuselage tore off the plane mid-air.
Passengers captured the harrowing incident, sharing photos and videos on social media, revealing a sizeable chunk missing from the back left side of the aircraft. In a TikTok video, passengers are seen wearing oxygen masks as the plane descends, highlighting the visible damage.
Fortunately, there was no one seated next to the window. However, an anonymous passenger reported a child’s shirt being ripped off during the incident, emphasising the severity of the situation.
Alaska Airlines promptly responded, stating that Flight 1282 landed safely back at Portland International Airport with 174 guests and 6 crew members. The airline is actively investigating the incident and pledged to share more information as it becomes available.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FAA are also conducting investigations into the incident. The FAA confirmed the occurrence and expressed its commitment to a thorough examination.
The plane involved is identified as a Boeing 737-9 MAX, a variant of the Boeing 737 MAX series that faced global grounding following two high-profile crashes. The flight records show the incident occurred shortly after takeoff, reaching an altitude of 16,000 feet before the emergency descent.
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