NBC News reports that yesterday (1/5/2024), Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 was traveling from Oregon to Southern California and had to make an emergency landing at Portland International Airport following a mid-air incident in which part of a side of the plane detached from the aircraft. The plane landed safely and nobody was injured or killed.
A photograph taken by an on-board passenger showed an entire side panel missing from the fuselage:
Today, the airline announced that it would temporarily ground all 65 of its 737 Max 9 aircraft while it conducts maintenance and safety inspections.
The NBC News report may be viewed HERE.
My brothers and sisters, this is reminiscent of the former Aloha Airlines incident on April 28, 1988, when an explosive decompression blew off the top of a large section of a Boeing 737-297 during flight.
Thank God that yesterday’s decompression event with Alaska Airlines was nowhere near as massive, but any opening within the fuselage of a pressurized aircraft can result in unrestrained persons being sucked outside of the plane.
Hopefully Alaska Airlines and federal investigators will determine if this apparent structural failure is system-wide or an anomaly, and perform all necessary safety inspections and maintenance.
1 Chronicles 16:34 (NKJV)
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”
Praise Jesus forevermore!