Flight schedules are in disarray as Boeing 737 Max 9s stay grounded following a hair-raising incident on an Alaska Airlines flight. Hundreds of would-be passengers are stranded or scrambling for new arrangements as the airline has canceled about 170 flights nationwide, affecting around 25,000 individuals, Patch reports. Airports like Los Angeles International and San Diego International are hit with significant delays and cancellations.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has put an estimated 171 aircraft out of service for inspections, which come as a section of fuselage dramatically detached from an Alaska Airlines plane on a route into Ontario International Airport. The plane experienced pressurization issues during previous flights, as chronicled by the FAA and later revealed by NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy. "We plan to look at that more, and we’ve requested documentation on all defects since delivery of the aircraft on Oct. 31," Homendy said in a statement obtained by Patch.
Travelers are left to tug at their collars, some rebooking or seeking refunds under Alaska Airlines' flexible travel policy. A video shared on TikTok by passenger Kyle Rinker shows the stark absence of where a window once was. "It was really abrupt. Just got to altitude, and the window/wall just popped off and didn't notice it until the oxygen masks came off," Rinker recounted in an interview with CNN. Meanwhile, United Airlines followed suit, grounding their Boeing 737 Max 9 planes and trying to accommodate passengers caught in the crossfire.
Shares of Boeing slid after an emergency landing again put safety concerns under a harsh spotlight. "My heart goes out to those who were on this flight. I am so sorry for what you experienced," Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci apologized as per a statement obtained by Patch. In solidarity with passengers, Minicucci highlighted the resolve of the flight crew in addressing the crisis, underscoring ongoing efforts to support guests in the coming days.
Taking the lead on the investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) sent a Go Team to Portland and pledged to share findings as they unfurl. According to the NTSB Newsroom on X, no serious injuries resulted from the Oregon to California flight's ordeal. Nonetheless, details surfacing about previous maintenance issues and Boeing's scrutiny continue to rattle confidence—already amassing enough skepticism following past incidents—underscoring a broader conversation on the robustness of air safety regulation.
Update: NTSB has launched a Go Team to Portland, Oregon to investigate an event with a Boeing 737-9 MAX during a flight from Portland to Ontario, California. No serious injuries were reported. https://t.co/VK0xF487xo
— NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) January 6, 2024
