A window shattered on an Alaska Airlines plane flying from Portland, Oregon to Ontario, California, causing a loss of cabin pressure and forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing back at Portland International Airport on Friday evening.
The incident occurred on Alaska flight 1282, a Boeing 737-9 MAX that had been certified by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) in November 2023, just two months before the flight, according to FAA records available online.
Passengers on board the plane told KPTV that they heard a loud bang and saw a hole in the wall of the plane, where a window had blown out at an altitude of 16,000 feet. A child sitting near the window was reportedly pulled by the suction, and his shirt was torn off. Some passengers also lost their phones, which were sucked out of the plane. A seat next to the window was also blown out due to decompression.
The plane’s oxygen masks dropped down, and many passengers used them as they waited for the plane to return to the airport. The plane was carrying 174 passengers and 6 crew members.
No injuries have been reported so far. No injuries have been reported so far.
Alaska Airlines acknowledged the incident on X and said they would provide more details as they become available.
Videos shared on social media showed passengers wearing oxygen masks and sitting calmly as the plane landed safely. The hole in the wall of the plane was clearly visible, with the lights of Portland shining through.