Portland, Oregon – On Friday, an Alaska Airlines Flight bound for Ontario, California, had to make an emergency landing in Portland International Airport after the crew reported a pressurization issue.
It was reported that a section of the fuselage, including a window, blew out shortly after takeoff. No serious injuries were reported. In response, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered all Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft to be grounded until comprehensive inspections are completed.
Alaska Airlines has announced that emergency inspections of its fleet of Boeing 737 Max 9 planes will take longer than expected, leading to further flight disruptions.
Alaska Airlines had already canceled 160 flights, impacting thousands of passengers, and more cancellations are expected for Sunday. The airline stated that disruptions are likely to last until at least mid-week.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the incident. Boeing has expressed support for the FAA’s grounding decision and is cooperating in gathering additional information.
The recent issues with Boeing’s 737 Max planes have raised concerns about the company’s quality control in manufacturing. The previous crashes and subsequent grounding of the 737 Max jets led to significant financial losses for Boeing.
As the inspections and investigations continue, passengers are advised to stay updated on flight cancellations and alternative travel options.