January 6th 2024.
Yesterday, an Alaska Airlines flight carrying 180 passengers on board faced a terrifying situation shortly after taking off from Portland International Airport. Without warning, a window and part of the fuselage were blown out at an altitude of 16,000 feet, causing the cabin to suddenly depressurise.
Fortunately, the plane was able to land safely with all 174 passengers and 6 crew members onboard. Pictures showed the damage, with a gaping hole in the side of the plane next to the passenger seats. Videos on TikTok also captured passengers wearing oxygen masks.
The Boeing 737-9 Max involved in the incident had only been in commercial service since November 11th, having flown 145 flights since then. The flight from Portland was the aircraft’s third of the day.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration have both announced that they will investigate the incident. Boeing has also stated that they are aware of the situation and are ready to support the investigation.
The cause of the window and fuselage being blown out is still unknown, but it is a reminder of the importance of aviation safety. We can only hope that the investigation provides answers and helps ensure that this kind of incident doesn't happen again.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
