Plane Door Unexpectedly Opens Mid Air, Makes Emergency Landing
In a terrifying incident caught on camera, the door of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9 MAX bound for Ontario, CA (California), unexpectedly opened soon after departure from Portland. The viral video showcases the harrowing experience as the rear exit door had completely separated from the aircraft.
“AS1282 from Portland to Ontario, CA (California) experienced an incident this evening soon after departure. The aircraft landed safely back at Portland International Airport with 171 guests and six crew members. We are investigating what happened and will share more as it becomes available,” Alaska Airlines said in a post on X.
🚨#BREAKING: Alaska Airlines Forced to Make an Emergency Landing After Large Aircraft Window Blows Out Mid-Air ⁰⁰📌#Portland | #Oregon
⁰A Forced emergency landing was made of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 at Portland International Airport on Friday night. The flight, traveling… pic.twitter.com/nt0FwmPALE— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) January 6, 2024
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), in a post on X, said it is investigating an event involving Alaska Airlines Flight 1282.
Despite reaching a maximum altitude of 16,325 feet, the airline assured the public that the plane landed back safely in Portland, real-time aircraft movement monitor Flightradar24 said in a social media post.
AS1282 from Portland to Ontario, CA experienced an incident this evening soon after departure. The aircraft landed safely back at Portland International Airport with 171 guests and 6 crew members. We are investigating what happened and will share more as it becomes available.
— Alaska Airlines (@AlaskaAir) January 6, 2024
The Boeing 737 MAX involved in the incident today was delivered to Alaska Airlines on October 1, 2023, and entered commercial service on November 11, 2023, with a rear cabin exit door aft of the wings but before the rear exit door, which resulted in dense seating configurations to meet evacuation requirements. The doors are not activated on Alaska Airlines aircraft and are permanently “plugged,” Flightradar24 said.
The company has accumulated 145 flights since the Boeing 737 MAX joined their fleet.
