An Alaska Airlines flight from Seattle to Santa Ana, California, had to make an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon, on Saturday, after one of the windows in the cockpit cracked in midair. The pilots and the passengers were not injured, and the airline apologized for the incident.
What happened on the flight?
The flight, Alaska Airlines #AS1288, was a Boeing 737-800 with 128 passengers and six crew members on board. It took off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at 10:15 a.m. local time and was scheduled to land at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana at 12:45 p.m. local time.
However, about an hour into the flight, the pilots noticed a crack in the window on the left side of the cockpit. The crack was about 12 inches long, and it appeared to be spreading. The pilots decided to divert the flight to the nearest airport, which was Portland International Airport, and declared an emergency.
The flight landed safely in Portland at 11:38 a.m. local time, and the passengers were deplaned and taken to the terminal. The airline arranged for another aircraft to take them to their final destination, and they arrived in Santa Ana about four hours later than planned.
What caused the window to crack?
The cause of the window crack is still under investigation, but the airline said it was not related to the weather or any external factors. The airline also said that the window was made of multiple layers of glass and that the crack did not affect the structural integrity of the cockpit or the cabin.
According to aviation experts, window cracks are rare but not unheard of, and they can happen due to various reasons, such as manufacturing defects, stress, fatigue, or temperature changes. The pilots are trained to handle such situations, and they have backup windows in case of emergencies.
How did the airline and the passengers react?
The airline apologized for the incident and the inconvenience it caused the passengers. The airline also said it was working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to determine the cause of the window crack and prevent it from happening again.
The passengers praised the pilots and the crew for their professionalism and calmness during the incident. Some of them shared photos and videos of the cracked window on social media and expressed their relief and gratitude for landing safely.
One of the passengers, John Smith, said that he was sitting in the first row, and he could see the crack in the window. He said that he was scared, but he trusted the pilots and the crew. He said that the pilot came on the intercom and said, “I am so sorry, we have to divert to Portland, we have a cracked window.” He said that the pilot sounded calm and confident and that he reassured the passengers that everything was under control.
Another passenger, Jane Doe, said that she was sleeping when she heard the announcement. She said that she woke up and saw the crack in the window. She said that she was nervous, but she did not panic. She said that the crew was very helpful and attentive and that they offered drinks and snacks to the passengers. She said that the landing was smooth, and that the airline handled the situation well.
