Alaska Airlines has grounded its fleet of Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft after one of its planes lost a section of fuselage mid-flight, forcing an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon. The incident occurred on Friday, with the plane carrying 177 passengers and crew. The airline later announced that some aircraft had been returned to service after inspections found no concerning findings.
Passengers described a loud bang and a rush of air as the panel detached. Evan Smith said a child's shirt was sucked out of the plane, and his mother held onto him to prevent him from being pulled out. Elizabeth Lee recalled the wind being extremely loud, while Jessica Montoia called it a 'trip from hell', noting a phone was torn from a passenger's hand.
The affected area was in the rear third of the plane, behind the wing and engines. The section is typically used for an additional emergency exit door by some operators, but not by Alaska Airlines. The pilot declared an emergency due to depressurisation and requested a diversion back to Portland.
Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci apologised to those on board and stated that each aircraft would undergo full maintenance and safety inspections before returning to service. The US Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident. Boeing said it was aware and ready to support the investigation.
The Boeing 737 Max has faced intense scrutiny following two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 that led to a global grounding. Aviation expert John Strickland noted that this incident is different from those crashes and that the aircraft has had a good safety record since returning to service.
