On January 11, 2024, it was reported that Alaska Airlines has cancelled all their flights on the Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircrafts through at least Saturday, January 13, 2024. As a result of the grounding, Alaska Airlines will cancel 110-150 flights a day while Alaska Airlines obtains inspection details from Boeing and federal aviation officials. https://www.npr.org/2024/01/11/1224122379/alaska-airlines-cancels-all-flights-on-the-boeing-737-max-9-through-saturday
As of January 8, 2024, the United States National Transportation Safety Board website has informed that “A team of NTSB aviation safety investigators is on-site in Portland to investigate an event with a Boeing 737-9 MAX during a flight from Portland to Ontario, California. All aspects of this incident remain under investigation.”
On January 5, 2024, Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 departed Portland, Oregon at 5:07 PM PST passengers faced a terrifying midair emergency that shook them to their core.
According to the United States Department of Transportation, the Boeing 737 MAX 9, with serial number 67501 and registration number: N704AL, the Boeing 737 MAX 9 was manufactured by Boeing and was given a Certificate Issue Date of November 2, 2023 and is currently owned by Alaska Airlines Inc. https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Search/NNumberResult?NNumberTxt=704AL
The Terrifying Experience:
As the Boeing 737 Max 9 climbed to about 16,000 feet, an explosive event occurred, tearing off a door-sized section near the rear of the plane.
So far, The Investigation Unveiled:
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair, Jennifer Homendy, sheds light on the investigation findings. The missing door plug, discovered in a schoolteacher’s backyard, is a critical piece in understanding the explosive depressurization accident. Shockingly, reports reveal that the plane’s auto-pressurization fail light had illuminated on three previous flights, raising questions about the aircraft’s maintenance and safety measures.
Safety Concerns and Unanswered Requests:
Alarming details emerge as it is disclosed that the airline restricted the plane from flying to Hawaii due to concerns, but a deeper inspection request went unanswered. The NTSB is now investigating whether the illuminated fail light is connected to the accident, emphasizing the need for a thorough examination of the plane’s safety systems.
On Wednesday, January 10, 2024, Boeing CEO, Dave Calhoun reported that the Alaska Airlines blowout was caused by a “quality escape.” https://www.businessinsider.com/boeing-ceo-says-alaska-airlines-blowout-caused-by-quality-escape-2024-1
Passenger Injuries and Flight Disruptions:
Amidst the chaos, passengers struggled to hear announcements, leading to confusion and fear. Flight attendants describe the violent nature of the incident, and reports reveal injuries among passengers and crew. Fortunately, there were no casualties as a result of the January 5, 2024 incident.
Conclusion:
Alaska Airlines Flight 1282’s emergency serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictability of air travel and the crucial importance of thorough safety measures. As investigations continue, passengers and industry experts await answers that could shape the future of aviation safety standards. Unfortunately though, from a public relations standpoint, Alaska Airlines posted a Travel and Leisure article on January 4, 2024 titled, “These are the Safest Airlines in the World for 2024” and Alaska Airlines was listed as one of the top 10 safest airlines in the world. At this point, it remains unknown how the incident on January 6, 2024 will affect Alaska Airlines in terms of safety incidents that attribute to an airline’s overall ranking. https://www.travelandleisure.com/safest-airlines-2024-airlineratings-air-new-zealand-8422203
Leave a Reply