An Alaska Airlines jetliner experienced a terrifying incident shortly after takeoff, when one of its windows blew out and a portion of its fuselage was damaged. The incident occurred three miles above Oregon, forcing the pilots to make an emergency landing at Portland International Airport. Thankfully, all 174 passengers and six crew members on board were able to safely don oxygen masks and no serious injuries were reported.
Passenger Evan Smith, who witnessed the incident, shared that a young boy and his mother were seated in the row where the window blew out. The force of the incident was so strong that it caused the child’s shirt to be sucked off him and out of the plane. Smith described hearing a loud bang and a whooshing sound before the oxygen masks were deployed throughout the cabin.
In response to the incident, Alaska Airlines has grounded its fleet of 65 Boeing 737-9 Max aircraft until they can undergo thorough inspections. The National Transportation Safety Board has also announced that it will be launching an investigation into the incident.
Safety is always the top priority for airlines, and incidents like these are taken very seriously. Alaska Airlines will work closely with the authorities to determine the cause of the window blowout and take any necessary measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Passengers and crew members were undoubtedly shaken by the incident, but the prompt actions of the pilots and the effectiveness of the emergency procedures ensured a safe landing. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of proper maintenance and safety protocols in the aviation industry.