Alaska Airlines announced that a window and a fuselage part of the Boeing 737 Max 9 type plane, which took off for California late on Friday, exploded in the air.
The hole opened as a result of the incident, which occurred approximately six minutes after takeoff, caused the cabin pressure to drop. Flight data showed the plane climbed to 16,000 feet (4,876 meters) before returning to Portland International Airport, where it took off.
The plane made an emergency landing at Portland airport in Oregon. Alaska Airlines reported that the plane landed safely with 177 passengers and six crew members on board.
No serious injuries occurred
According to local media, some minor injuries were treated at the scene during the fire brigade’s intervention; It was reported that one person was taken for treatment but was not seriously injured.
In the images taken by passengers, it can be seen that a hole appeared on the left side of the plane next to the passenger seat. In the video, passengers can be seen continuing to sit in their seats with oxygen masks on.
Speaking to KATU-TV, passenger Evan Smith said of the moment the explosion occurred: “There was a big explosion sound in the left rear. A whirring sound and all the oxygen masks immediately opened and everyone put the masks on.” he conveyed in his words.
Smith reported that a child and his mother were sitting in the seat next to the window when it exploded, the child’s shirt was pulled off him and he walked out of the plane. In some passenger videos, comments made by passengers after landing were heard, such as that the seat next to the window was empty and the crew gave information to this effect.
The fleet was taken into full maintenance
“Following tonight’s incident on Flight 1282, we have decided to take the precautionary step of temporarily grounding our fleet of 65 Boeing 737-9 aircraft,” Alaska Airlines Chief Executive Officer Ben Minicucci said in a statement. said.
Stating that they are trying to figure out why the incident occurred together with Boeing, Minicucci said that each of the planes will return to service after full maintenance and safety inspections, which are expected to be completed within a few days.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that they would investigate the incident.
According to FAA records online, the plane in which the accident occurred rolled off the assembly line and received its certification two months ago. According to FlightRadar24, the aircraft has flown 145 flights since it entered commercial service on November 11. It was stated that the flight from Portland was the plane’s third flight of the day.
