Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX Forced into Emergency Landing After Mid-Flight Structural Failure Due to Turbulences

Alaska Airlines has temporarily taken its fleet of Boeing 737-9 Max jets out of service following an worrying incident on one of its flights on Friday.

Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, traveling from Portland to Ontario, California, was forced to turn back to Portland International Airport shortly after takeoff when the crew reported issues with the aircraft's pressurization system.

According to accounts from passengers, approximately 20 minutes into the flight, a panel on the side of the plane's fuselage blew out suddenly. This panel included a window, exposing the cabin to the outside air.

Passenger Kyle Rinker told media outlets that there was a loud noise as the panel popped off, quickly followed by the oxygen masks deploying in the cabin.

Another passenger's video shared on social media gave a view of the missing panel, showing the exposed cabin with oxygen masks hanging from the ceiling throughout the plane. At least two passengers can be seen in seats near and just behind the opening.