Alaska Airlines Flight 1240 Returns to Seattle Due to Engine Shutdown

An Alaska Airlines flight was forced to turn back to Seattle due to an engine failure, just an hour into its journey to Oakland, California. Passenger Dabney Lawless described a smoke-like incident and heightened anxiety among passengers. The airline attributed the quick response and safe landing to the crew's efforts, apologizing for the inconvenience. Neither Alaska Airlines nor Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, provided further comment.

The skies over the Pacific Northwest were shaken last Friday when an Alaska Airlines flight bound for Oakland, California, was forced to turn back due to an engine failure, just an hour into its journey. Passenger Dabney Lawless described the incident as a smoke-like episode, sparking heightened anxiety among fellow passengers.

According to a CNN report [1], Lawless was seated in an aisle seat in row 12 when she heard a loud roar of wind. Shortly after takeoff, a section of the Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft had blown out, scattering debris and prompting a panicked response from passengers. While some frantically moved to empty seats away from the incident, others were more focused on contacting loved ones.

Fearing for her safety, Lawless took out her phone to record video and draft final text messages to her boyfriend and mother. The incident, she told CNN, lasted "forever," but the plane eventually landed safely less than 10 minutes later.

The quick response and safe landing of the flight are attributed to the crew's efforts. Alaska Airlines apologized for the inconvenience and assured passengers of their safety. However, the airline and aircraft manufacturer Boeing declined to provide further comment [1].

This incident comes at a time when Boeing is facing engineering and quality problems. As reported by CNN, the aircraft maker has seen a string of issues with this specific type of plane, prompting concerns about the safety of its fleet [1].

Passengers like Lawless are left shaken by the experience, with some expressing relief that the incident ended well while others remain concerned about the safety of future flights.

References:
[1] CNN. (2023, January 6). Alaska Airlines passenger says she drafted final texts to loved ones after section of plane blew out. https://www.cnn.com/business/live-news/alaska-airlines-boeing-01-06-24/index.html