An Alaska Airlines flight encountered a terrifying ordeal when a cabin window suddenly exploded, leading to an emergency landing. The incident caused chaos and fear among the 171 passengers on board, with belongings being sucked out of the aircraft and a flight attendant sustaining minor injuries.
Key Takeaway
An Alaska Airlines flight made an emergency landing after a cabin window blew out, causing chaos and fear among passengers. The airline is taking precautionary measures by grounding its fleet for inspection, and an investigation is underway to understand the cause of the incident.
Scary In-Flight Experience
The flight, which departed from Portland International Airport en route to Ontario, California, had to abruptly change course after the window blew out. The sudden decompression resulted in oxygen masks dropping from the ceiling and turbulent winds sweeping through the cabin, creating a harrowing situation for everyone on board.
Passengers captured the frightening episode on video, showcasing the gaping hole in the aircraft’s side and the items being pulled out into the sky. Despite the chaos, the skilled pilots managed to bring the Boeing 737-9 back to Portland safely, averting a potential disaster.
Passenger Accounts
One passenger, Vi Nguyen, recounted being startled awake by a loud noise and witnessing the alarming sight of the missing cabin wall. Another traveler, Elizabeth Le, shared the distressing experience of a teenage boy who suffered skin irritation due to the sudden decompression.
Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci promptly addressed the situation, expressing regret for the incident and announcing the temporary grounding of the airline’s fleet of 65 Boeing 737-9 aircraft for thorough inspection and maintenance. Additionally, the National Transportation Safety Board has initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the window failure.
