On Jan. 5, only 10 minutes after departure, an Alaskan Airlines flight was at an altitude of 16,000 feet high when a panel blew out, leaving aisle 26 with an enormous hole. Seats in the aisle were unoccupied, leaving none of the crew or passengers seriously injured.
The Alaskan Airlines flight was on a brand-new Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft. On Jan. 6, the FAA stated that they will temporarily ground some Boeing 737 Max 9 airplanes used by U.S. airlines to ensure the safety of all their passengers. As of Jan. 8, the carriers have canceled more than 400 flights.
The incident leaves the Federal Aviation Administration with the responsibility of making important decisions regarding the safety of passengers and the quality of their aircraft. Inspections on the aircraft resulted in no concerning findings. Passengers and employees must now wait and see how the FAA and Alaskan Airlines handle further inspection and regulation.
