Passengers are recalling a nightmare Alaska Airlines flight on its way to California that suffered an emergency depressurizing situation when a chunk of the plane’s body was blown out.
Following an emergency landing, there were thankfully no serious injuries, though a child near the blown off portion had to be held down by his mother, and his shirt was sucked out of the plane and his skin was reddened from the fierce wind, one passenger told KPTV.
“I open up my eyes and the first thing I see is the oxygen mask right in front of me,” a 22-year-old passenger named Vi Nguyen told The New York Times. “And I look to the left and the wall on the side of the plane is gone.”
“The first thing I thought was, ‘I’m going to die,’” she added.
When the wall of the plane just breaks off mid flight @AlaskaAir pic.twitter.com/pMWhpiHmFY
— Kyle Rinker (@Kyrinker) January 6, 2024
“Portland approach, Alaska 1282 emergency! Aircraft is now leveling 12,000 in a left turn heading three four zero,” the pilot said during the flight, according to KPTV.
There were reportedly more than 170 passengers on the flight and six crew members.
One of the passengers posted video of the incident and suggests it was not the emergency door that was blown off the plane, as some other reports have claimed. Narrating the video, the passenger adds that, thankfully, no one was sitting directly next to the blow off portion, which she identifies as a “window.”
WATCH:
An Alaska Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing last night after a panel blew out shortly after takeoff. Thankfully, no serious injuries were reported.
The airline has temporarily grounded its fleet of Boeing 737-9 Max aircraft. pic.twitter.com/tgnGe8thrI
— Morning Brew ☕️ (@MorningBrew) January 6, 2024
Following the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily ordered U.S. airlines to stop using some Boeing 737 Max 9 planes, the Times reports.
“Safety is our top priority and we deeply regret the impact this event has had on our customers and their passengers,” Boeing spokeswoman Jessica Kowal said in a statement. “We agree with and fully support the F.A.A.’s decision to require immediate inspections of 737-9 airplanes with the same configuration as the affected airplane.”
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Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci said such aircrafts “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,” Minicucci’s statement said.
“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,” he added.
Alaska Airlines is investigating the incident and said it will release more details as it learns more.