Alaska Airlines pilot: ‘I was in shock'
First Officer Recounts Harrowing Experience on Flight 1282 #
The first officer piloting the Alaska Airlines flight that experienced a door plug blowout on January 5 has shared her account of the incident. Initially fearing fatalities, she described the moment she opened the flight deck door to assess the situation.
“I saw quiet. Hundreds of eyes staring right back at me,” she recalled. Upon inquiring about the flight attendants’ status, she heard mentions of a hole, empty seats, and injuries.
The pilot’s immediate concern was that passengers had been blown out of the plane. However, the flight crew quickly confirmed that all 177 individuals on board were accounted for, much to her relief and shock.
The incident involved a door plug, a part of the fuselage that replaces an emergency exit door on certain plane configurations, blowing off mid-flight. This left a large opening in the aircraft’s side. Subsequent investigations revealed that the 737 Max plane had been delivered without four crucial bolts designed to secure the door plug.
From the flight deck, the first officer experienced the event as an explosion in her ears, followed by a rush of air and a loud bang. She was unaware of the specific nature of the damage until after landing.
The pilot described the noise as “incredibly loud” and noted that her headset was torn off during the cabin depressurization, hampering communication. Despite these challenges, she assisted in safely landing the plane with no serious injuries reported among those on board.
The incident has raised significant questions about aircraft manufacturing and safety protocols. It has also had a substantial impact on the airplane manufacturer’s reputation, leading to leadership changes and increased oversight of safety compliance.