An Alaska Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Portland after one of the cabin windows exploded, creating a gaping hole and sucking out belongings from frightened passengers. The incident occurred on a packed commercial airliner that took off from Portland International Airport heading for Ontario, California. However, it had to quickly turn around after the window blew out.
As the plane flew back to Portland airport, sheer chaos ensued. Oxygen masks rained down on the 171 passengers, and tornado-like winds gusted through the cabin, causing a “pressurization issue,” according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
During the next 15 minutes, scared passengers recorded videos of the harrowing experience and posted them on social media. The videos showed the large hole in the side of the plane, where several items, including cell phones, were suctioned out.
Luckily, the Boeing 737-9 aircraft touched down safely, and no one was seriously hurt. However, a flight attendant sustained minor injuries. One passenger, Vi Nguyen, described the terrifying moment when she was jolted awake by a loud bang and saw that “the wall on the side of the plane is gone.” She added, “The first thing I thought was, ‘I’m going to die.'”
Elizabeth Le, another passenger, witnessed a teenage boy who had lost his shirt and had red and irritated skin as a result of the incident. Flight attendants were trying to help them move to another section of the plane, but the experience was described as horrifying.
Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci issued a statement, announcing that the company is temporarily grounding its fleet of 65 Boeing 737-9 aircraft for full inspection and maintenance as a precautionary measure. He also apologized to the passengers on the flight and confirmed that the National Transportation Safety Board is leading an investigation into the incident.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of airplane safety and the need for thorough inspections and maintenance to prevent such incidents from occurring. Passengers rely on airlines to prioritize their safety and well-being while traveling, and incidents like this highlight the need for continuous vigilance in the aviation industry.
