An Alaska Airlines flight encountered a mid-air emergency during its route from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, California, prompting an unexpected landing after a section of the aircraft suffered damage.
The flight, Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, took off from Portland International Airport. Shortly after reaching an altitude of approximately 16,000 feet, the plane experienced an issue, causing it to return to Portland. Passengers witnessed a disturbing scene, as one of the doors and window panels was blown out mid-flight.
A remarkable discovery ensued as Sean Bates found an iPhone on an Oregon roadside, a device that had been sucked out of the aircraft. Astonishingly, the phone remained fully intact and functional despite plummeting from the sky from a height of 16,000 feet. Bates found the device with its charging cable still lodged in the port, showcasing the forceful nature of its removal.
Bates, who posts on X, formerly Twitter, under the moniker @SeanSafyre, said that when he called the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), an agent "said it was the SECOND phone to be found" since the incident, noting at the time that the door had still not been found.
You can see the photos and Bates' post below.
@SeanSafyre/X
@SeanSafyre/X
People were stunned and many found the humor in the situation.
The flight, comprising 174 passengers and six crew members, landed safely back in Portland. The pilot declared an emergency due to a depressurization issue, prompting a rapid descent and the urgent need to return to a lower altitude.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported a "pressurization issue," prompting investigations by both the FAA and the NTSB into the incident.
The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737-MAX 9, recently delivered to the airline in October. Alaska Airlines subsequently decided to ground its fleet of 65 Boeing 737-9 aircraft as a precautionary measure to conduct thorough inspections, focusing on safety and maintenance checks.
Boeing, in collaboration with Alaska Airlines, is actively engaged in the investigations. Despite this incident, a quarter of the airline's 737-9 fleet underwent inspection with no significant findings, prompting plans for a phased return to service.
Significantly, the missing door plug pivotal to the investigation was discovered in a Portland-area home's backyard, marking a critical development in uncovering the cause of the detachment.
@GavinNewsom/X
