Federal officials have mandated the immediate grounding of Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliners for inspections following an incident where an Alaska Airlines plane suffered a blowout, leaving a gaping hole in the fuselage. The required inspections, taking approximately four to eight hours per aircraft, affect about 171 airplanes worldwide. As of Saturday morning, more than a quarter of the fleet had been inspected with no concerning findings reported.
An Alaska Airlines jetliner experienced a window blowout and a portion of its fuselage shortly after takeoff, 3 miles above Oregon. The depressurized plane safely returned to Portland International Airport about 20 minutes after departure. The airline has grounded its 65 Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft until they can be inspected.
The National Transportation Safety Board announced it would investigate the incident. Passenger Evan Smith recounted a child's shirt being sucked off and out of the plane during the incident. Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci stated that the inspection of the company's 737-9 fleet could take days to complete, potentially affecting the company's flight schedule.
The Port of Portland, which operates the airport, reported minor injuries treated at the scene, with one person taken for further treatment but not seriously hurt.
Flight 1282 had taken off from Portland for Ontario, California, reaching about 16,000 feet before the window and fuselage blew out. The pilots declared an emergency and requested to descend to 10,000 feet for breathable air. Videos posted by passengers online showed the hole where the window had been and passengers wearing masks. The plane landed safely about 13 minutes after the window blew out.
The aircraft involved was relatively new, having received its certification just two months ago and been on 145 flights since entering commercial service. The Max is Boeing's newest version of the 737, a plane frequently used on U.S. domestic flights.
The Association of Flight Attendants commended the crew for keeping passengers safe. The Max 8 jets had previously been grounded for nearly two years following two crashes in 2018 and 2019, killing 346 people. The planes returned to service after Boeing made changes to an automated flight control system implicated in the crashes.
The FAA had previously advised pilots to limit use of an anti-ice system on the Max in dry conditions due to concerns about engine inlets overheating and breaking away. Max deliveries have been intermittently interrupted to fix manufacturing flaws, including a recent advisory to inspect the planes for a possible loose bolt in the rudder-control system.
