SEATTLE- Late on Friday (January 5, 2023), Alaska Airlines (AS) took the decision to ground all its Boeing 737-9 (737 MAX 9) aircraft after a window and a section of fuselage on one of these planes blew out midair, leading to an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon.
The incident occurred shortly after takeoff, causing the cabin to depressurize. Flight data indicated that the plane climbed to 16,000 feet (4,876 meters) before returning to Portland International Airport (PDX).
Alaska Airlines Grounds 737 MAX
Fortunately, the plane landed safely with 174 passengers and six crew members on board. In response to the incident on Flight AS1282, Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci announced the precautionary measure of temporarily grounding their fleet of 65 Boeing 737-9 aircraft.
He stated in a release that each aircraft would undergo full maintenance and safety inspections, with the expectation of completing them within days.
As of now, the airline has not provided immediate information regarding injuries or the potential cause of the incident.
Approximately six minutes after taking off at 5:07 p.m., the plane was redirected, as indicated by flight tracking data from the FlightAware website. It successfully landed at 5:26 p.m.
The pilot informed Portland air traffic controllers of an emergency, citing depressurization and the need to return to the airport. This information is based on a recording obtained from the LiveATC.net website.
FAA, NTSB Begins Investigation
A passenger shared a photo with KATU-TV in Portland, revealing a hole in the aircraft’s side next to passenger seats. Video footage aired by the station depicted individuals wearing oxygen masks, with passengers applauding as the plane touched down.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) that it is investigating the incident and will provide updates when available. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also announced its intention to conduct an investigation.
According to online FAA records, the Boeing 737-9 (737 MAX 9) involved in the incident recently completed its assembly and certification just two months ago.
FlightRadar24, another tracking service, reported that the plane had undertaken 145 flights since entering commercial service on Nov. 11. The flight from Portland marked the aircraft’s third journey of the day.
Boeing Remarks
Boeing acknowledged awareness of the incident and expressed its commitment to gathering more information while being prepared to assist in the investigation.
The Max, Boeing’s latest iteration of the 737, is a twin-engine, single-aisle aircraft commonly employed for U.S. domestic flights. This model entered service in May 2017.
In 2018 and 2019, two Max 8 jets were involved in crashes that resulted in the tragic deaths of 346 people. These incidents prompted a nearly two-year global grounding of all Max 8 and Max 9 planes. The planes were only reintroduced after Boeing implemented modifications to an automated flight control system implicated in the accidents.
In the previous year, the FAA advised pilots to restrict the use of an anti-ice system on the Max in dry conditions due to concerns that inlets around the engines might overheat and detach, posing a potential threat to the aircraft.
Periodic interruptions in Max deliveries have occurred to address manufacturing flaws. In December, the company instructed airlines to inspect the planes for a potential loose bolt in the rudder-control system.
Routes Served by 737 MAX 9
The list below comprises pre-scheduled Boeing 737 MAX 9 routes from January 6, 2024, to January 12, 2024, as of December 31, 2023, including one-time operations within this timeframe, as reported by Aeroroutes.
- Anchorage – Kahului
- Anchorage – Kona
- Anchorage – Phoenix
- Everett – Honolulu
- Everett – Las Vegas
- Everett – Phoenix
- Fresno – Los Cabos
- Las Vegas – New York JFK
- Los Angeles – Belize City
- Los Angeles – Cancun
- Los Angeles – Everett
- Los Angeles – Fort Lauderdale
- Los Angeles – Guadalajara
- Los Angeles – Honolulu
- Los Angeles – Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo
- Los Angeles – Kahului
- Los Angeles – Las Vegas
- Los Angeles – Liberia
- Los Angeles – Los Cabos
- Los Angeles – Nassau
- Los Angeles – Newark
- Los Angeles – Puerto Vallarta
- Los Angeles – Spokane
- Los Angeles – Tampa
- Los Angeles – Washington Dulles
- Palm Springs – New York JFK
- Portland OR – Anchorage
- Portland OR – Boston
- Portland OR – Burbank
- Portland OR – Dallas/Ft. Worth
- Portland OR – Fort Lauderdale
- Portland OR – Honolulu
- Portland OR – Kahului
- Portland OR – Kona
- Portland OR – Las Vegas
- Portland OR – Los Angeles
- Portland OR – Los Cabos
- Portland OR – Miami
- Portland OR – Newark
- Portland OR – New York JFK
- Portland OR – Orlando
- Portland OR – Palm Springs
- Portland OR – Phoenix
- Portland OR – Puerto Vallarta
- Portland OR – San Diego
- Portland OR – San Francisco
- Portland OR – Seattle
- Reno – Puerto Vallarta
- San Diego – Boston
- San Diego – Everett
- San Diego – Fort Lauderdale
- San Diego – Honolulu
- San Diego – Kahului
- San Diego – Kona
- San Diego – Los Cabos
- San Diego – Newark
- San Diego – New York JFK
- San Diego – Spokane
- San Diego – Tampa
- San Diego – Washington Dulles
- San Francisco – Austin
- San Francisco – Boston
- San Francisco – Cancun
- San Francisco – Chicago O’Hare
- San Francisco – Dallas Love Field
- San Francisco – Fort Lauderdale
- San Francisco – Honolulu
- San Francisco – Kahului
- San Francisco – Las Vegas
- San Francisco – Los Cabos
- San Francisco – Newark
- San Francisco – New York JFK
- San Francisco – Orlando
- San Francisco – Phoenix
- San Francisco – Puerto Vallarta
- San Francisco – Tampa
- San Francisco – Washington Dulles
- San Jose CA – Guadalajara
- San Jose CA – Honolulu
- San Jose CA – Kahului
- San Jose CA – Kona
- San Jose CA – Las Vegas
- San Jose CA – Los Cabos
- San Jose CA – Puerto Vallarta
- Seattle – Albuquerque
- Seattle – Anchorage
- Seattle – Atlanta
- Seattle – Austin
- Seattle – Baltimore/Washington
- Seattle – Belize City
- Seattle – Boise
- Seattle – Boston
- Seattle – Bozeman
- Seattle – Burbank
- Seattle – Cancun
- Seattle – Charleston SC
- Seattle – Chicago O’Hare
- Seattle – Cleveland – Pittsburgh – Seattle
- Seattle – Dallas/Ft. Worth
- Seattle – Denver
- Seattle – Detroit
- Seattle – Fairbanks
- Seattle – Fort Lauderdale
- Seattle – Fresno
- Seattle – Honolulu
- Seattle – Houston
- Seattle – Indianapolis
- Seattle – Juneau
- Seattle – Kahului
- Seattle – Kona
- Seattle – Las Vegas
- Seattle – Los Angeles
- Seattle – Los Cabos
- Seattle – Miami
- Seattle – Nassau
- Seattle – Newark
- Seattle – New Orleans
- Seattle – New York JFK
- Seattle – Oklahoma City
- Seattle – Ontario
- Seattle – Orlando
- Seattle – Palm Springs
- Seattle – Philadelphia
- Seattle – Phoenix
- Seattle – Pittsburgh
- Seattle – Puerto Vallarta
- Seattle – Raleigh/Durham
- Seattle – Redmond
- Seattle – Sacramento
- Seattle – Salt Lake City
- Seattle – San Antonio
- Seattle – San Diego
- Seattle – San Jose CA
- Seattle – Spokane
- Seattle – Tampa
- Seattle – Tucson
- Seattle – Washington Dulles
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