Tragedy was narrowly averted on Friday night when a panel on a Boeing plane blew out during an Alaska Airlines flight. Fortunately, the incident occurred at an altitude of 16,000 feet, where seats adjacent to the blowout were unoccupied and passengers were securely fastened with seatbelts. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) expressed relief during a news conference, stating that the situation could have been far more tragic.
Chaos and Miraculous Escapes
The blowout resulted from a detached panel, known as a door plug, which caused chaos and depressurized the cabin. While headrests were dislodged and a seat was damaged, no one was actually seated in the affected row. The NTSB Chair, Jennifer Homendy, described the incident as “very, very fortunate” due to the empty seats.
Photo of missing panel. The midair incident prompted the Alaska Airlines flight to make an emergency landing in Portland, Ore., on Friday. (Courtesy Kyle Rinker)
Rapid Decompression and Potential Dangers
The cabin experienced rapid decompression, endangering the lives of passengers had the incident occurred at cruising altitude. Jennifer Homendy emphasized that the situation could have been much worse if people were standing, walking, or using the restroom. The sudden decompression can lead to hypoxia, causing dizziness, loss of consciousness, and even permanent brain damage.
Inspections and Groundings
Alaska Airlines, which operates 65 Boeing aircraft, immediately grounded all of them following the incident. However, after careful inspections, 18 Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft were cleared. Unfortunately, an emergency airworthiness directive issued by the FAA led to the grounding of an estimated 171 planes. The temporary grounding has had a significant impact on the industry, with Alaska Airlines having to cancel 160 flights, affecting approximately 23,000 passengers.
The Investigation Continues
The NTSB is leading the investigation into the incident and will commence its full inquiry on Sunday. While the cause of the detached panel is yet to be determined, the NTSB will thoroughly examine the plug door and the aircraft’s air pressurization system. Passenger photos and videos from the time of the accident are also crucial for the investigation. The NTSB hopes that someone will find the missing door plug and report it to the authorities.
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