Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 Emergency Landing: What Happened and Whats Next

An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliner blew out a portion of its fuselage during takeoff, prompting an emergency landing. The incident has led U.S. federal authorities to ground some Max 9 aircraft for inspection.

An emergency landing by an Alaska Airlines jetliner has prompted U.S. federal authorities to ground some Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft, adding another chapter to the troubled history of Boeing's Max lineup of jets. Here's a detailed account of the incident and its aftermath.

The Incident

On Friday night, an Alaska Airlines jetliner experienced a sudden blowout of a portion of its fuselage just seven minutes after takeoff from Oregon. The incident occurred approximately 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) above Oregon, forcing the pilots to make an emergency landing. Fortunately, none of the 171 passengers or six crew members sustained serious injuries, but the rapid loss of cabin pressure caused oxygen masks to drop from the ceiling.

Federal Authorities' Response

In response to the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an emergency order grounding all Boeing Max 9 aircraft operated by U.S. airlines or flown into the country by foreign carriers until they undergo thorough inspections. This order affects approximately 171 planes worldwide.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has initiated an investigation that is expected to span several months. The focus of the investigation is on the panelled-over exit door that blew off during the flight. This so-called "door plug" is installed on certain jets with fewer seats instead of an emergency exit panel. All the jets ordered grounded by the FAA have these panels installed.

Authorities are actively searching for the missing door plug, which is believed to have landed near Oregon Route 217 and Barnes Road in the Cedar Hills area west of Portland.

Airlines' Response

In light of the incident and the FAA's directive, Alaska Airlines has grounded its entire fleet of 65 Max 9 aircraft for inspections and maintenance. Initially, the airline kept 18 of its Max 9s in service as they had recently undergone in-depth inspections as part of routine maintenance checks. However, Alaska Airlines subsequently pulled all of its Max 9s from service to comply with the FAA's directive for specific inspections.

United Airlines, the world's largest operator of Max 9s, has also grounded its entire fleet of 79 Max 9 aircraft. Alaska and United are the only two U.S. passenger airlines that operate Max 9 aircraft. Together, they account for nearly two-thirds of the 215 Max 9 aircraft in service worldwide, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Other airlines that operate the Max 9 include Panama's Copa Airlines, Aeromexico, Turkish Airlines, Icelandair, flydubai, and SCAT Airlines in Kazakhstan. Copa Airlines has temporarily suspended 21 Boeing 737 Max 9s in compliance with the FAA's order.

The groundings have resulted in significant flight cancellations. Alaska Airlines has canceled 163 flights on Sunday, representing approximately 21% of its scheduled flights, while United Airlines has canceled 247 flights, accounting for about 9% of its scheduled flights. Not all cancellations are solely attributed to the Max 9 crisis.

Safety Concerns

The incident has raised concerns about the safety of Boeing's Max aircraft, particularly the Max 8 and Max 9 models. In the past, there have been fatal crashes involving the Max 8, leading to worldwide groundings of the aircraft. Boeing has since implemented changes to address the issues identified in those incidents.

Federal officials and airline executives generally emphasize the safety of air travel, citing the absence of fatal crashes involving U.S. airliners since 2009. However, recent close calls between planes at U.S. airports have prompted the FAA to address safety concerns.

Boeing's Response

Boeing, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, issued a brief statement expressing regret for the impact the incident has had on customers and passengers. The company affirmed its support for the FAA's decision to require immediate inspections and stated that it is providing technical assistance to the investigators. Boeing has declined to make an executive available for interviews.

The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of aviation safety and the ongoing efforts by regulatory authorities, airlines, and manufacturers to ensure the safety of air travel.