Passengers on an Alaska Airlines flight described a terrifying moment last Friday when a door plug blew off their Boeing 737 Max 9 jet at 16,000 feet. Sieysoar Un and her 12-year-old son Josaih McCaul were sitting directly behind the door plug when it detached, taking Josaih’s phone and stuffed animal with it. Un recalled holding her son’s hand, believing they were about to die. McCaul described hearing a loud boom followed by freezing air rushing into the cabin.
The incident occurred around 5:11 p.m. local time as the plane climbed after takeoff from Portland International Airport, carrying 171 passengers, including three babies and four unaccompanied minors. Another passenger, a mother of a 15-year-old boy, said her son’s seat was pulled toward the hole in the fuselage as the cabin depressurized. She managed to pull him to safety, only later realizing his clothing had been torn off.
Boeing’s president and CEO, Dave Calhoun, acknowledged the company’s mistake and pledged full transparency in working with the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration to prevent similar incidents. The FAA has grounded the planes, emphasizing that safety, not speed, will dictate their return to service.