An Alaska Airlines flight turned into a nightmare when a section of the plane blew out mid-flight, reportedly sucking out passengers’ belongings and forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing in Portland.
The Ontario, California-bound plane departed Portland International Airport at 4:52 p.m. Friday but returned just 35 minutes later following the terrifying ordeal, according to data from flight tracking website Flight Aware.
Shortly after takeoff, the flight, which had 171 passengers and six crew members aboard, “experienced an incident,” Alaska Airlines said in a statement, without divulging more.
Passengers described the chaos as people’s cellphones and belongings were sucked out of the gaping hole in the plane.
One passenger told KPTV that a child had to be held down in his seat by his mother.
The same child who was sitting closest to the damaged part of the plane lost his shirt, and his skin was reddened by the wind.
Photos obtained by KTPV showed the massive chunk missing in the plane’s fuselage.
Immediately after the piece blew off, oxygen masks were deployed and used by passengers as they waited for the plane to land, several on board who declined to give their names told the outlet.
Recordings of the flight’s pilot captured the moments after the plane part was blown off, depressurizing the cabin.
“Portland approach, Alaska 1282 emergency! Aircraft is now leveling 12,000 in a left turn heading three four zero,” an Alaska Airlines pilot said, according to the outlet.
“We are emergency, we are depressurized, we do need to return back to, we have 177 passengers. Fuel is eighteen eight,” the pilot called out to air traffic control after being granted clearance to a lower altitude.
The fire department responded to the plane after it landed and treated minor injuries.
One person was taken for further medical evaluations, the Port of Portland told KPTV.
The plane safely made an emergency landing at Portland Airport, American Airlines and airport officials confirmed.
The Boeing 737-9 Max was recently built, obtaining its airworthiness certificate on Oct. 25, 2023, FAA registry records indicate.
Alaska Airlines temporarily grounded its entire fleet of Boeing 737-9s late Friday.
“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,” Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci said in a statement obtained by The Post. “Each aircraft will be returned to service only after completion of full maintenance and safety inspections.”
“We are working with Boeing and regulators to understand what occurred tonight, and will share updates as more information is available.”
Alaska Airlines said it is investigating and would release more information as it becomes available.
“My heart goes out to those who were on this flight — I am so sorry for what you experienced. I am so grateful for the response of our pilots and flight attendants,” Minicucci added.
