Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) arrived in Portland, Oregon, on Saturday to commence a thorough investigation into the incident involving Alaska Airlines Flight 1282. The NTSB’s “Go Team”, comprising experts in structures, operations, and systems, has been deployed to unravel the mystery behind the event.
NEW IMAGE from on board Alaska Airlines 1282 after ***part of the fuselage*** blew out mid-flight. Successful emergency return to Portland after 20 minutes in the air. 10-week-old (!) Boeing 737 Max 9. NTSB investigating. pic.twitter.com/qjX8fQ1br1
— Pete Muntean (@petemuntean) January 6, 2024
Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, highlighted one of the critical tasks of the investigation, which is to locate a missing plug from the aircraft’s fuselage. In an appeal for public assistance, Homendy noted that the plug is believed to have fallen in the Cedar Hills area, located a few miles west of downtown Portland, possibly near Barnes Road and Oregon Route 217.
Related: Alaska 737-9 That Lost Door Plug in-Flight Had Previous Warning Light Issues: NTSB
Understanding Aircraft Configuration: The Role of Fuselage Plugs
This plug, larger than a standard airplane window, was initially installed by Boeing as part of the aircraft’s construction. The plug’s purpose is to replace what would have been an emergency exit door, based on the aircraft’s passenger capacity configuration. For Flight 1282, the aircraft was certified to carry 189 passengers, making the installation of additional emergency exit doors unnecessary. Had the plane been configured for a higher capacity, such as 215 or 220 passengers, the inclusion of extra exit doors would have been required.
Related: Alaska Airlines Grounds Boeing 737 MAX 9 Fleet Following Cabin Panel Blowout
Details of Flight 1282: Crew and Passenger Count
Flight 1282, which was en route to Ontario, California, had 171 passengers and six crew members on board at the time of the incident. In response to the situation, Alaska Airlines issued a statement emphasizing their commitment to safety: “The safety of our guests and employees is always our primary priority,” the airline said, “so while this type of occurrence is rare, our flight crew was trained and prepared to safely manage the situation.” This statement underscores the airline’s dedication to maintaining high safety standards and preparedness for rare occurrences such as this.