On a quiet night, Portland International Airport is bustling. An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9MAX airliner preparing to fly to Ontario is poised on the runway. However, less than an hour after takeoff, the plane made a dramatic return to Portland International Airport.
When the plane was flying at an altitude of 16,000 feet, something unexpected happened: the rear hatch suddenly split and fell from the sky. Immediately after this frightening moment, the oxygen mask automatically lowered, providing life support for everyone on board. Passengers went through a mental journey from calm to chaos, with children being held tightly in their mothers' arms and some having their phones sucked out of the plane by strong air currents.
There was chaos in the cabin, but there was no panic. Passengers sat quietly in their oxygen masks and waited for the next development. Videos circulating on social media showed the crew remaining calm and professional in guiding passengers through the safety response despite the unprecedented crisis.
The new aircraft, which was delivered only in October last year and made only 145 commercial flights, suffered such misfortune. It flew from San Diego, via New York, to Portland, to Ontario, but was forced to turn back due to unforeseen circumstances.
The Boeing 737-9MAX is designed with a unique safety mechanism: under certain circumstances, the emergency exit door at the rear of the wing is activated. This is not only to meet the needs of emergency evacuation, but also to provide an escape route for passengers at critical moments.
In the aftermath of the accident, Alaska Airlines took swift steps to arrange new flights for the passengers. While the new flight is scheduled to depart at 11 p.m., both airlines and authorities have kept a low profile and are reluctant to reveal more details.
History is always strikingly similar. In October 2018 and March 2019, two 737 MAX aircraft were involved in accidents shortly after takeoff, resulting in the death of all people on board. These tragedies caused the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to suspend the 737 MAX for a time. However, after 20 months of investigation and refinement, the FAA finally approved the 737 MAX to return to service.
Now, the new accident has once again raised public questions about the safety of the Boeing 737-9MAX. For airlines, Boeing and relevant regulators, ensuring the safety of passengers will be an important test for them.