Would you feel safe on an aircraft that had blown out a tire right after takeoff? For the 175 passengers and six crew members aboard Alaska Airlines flight 309 on Thursday evening, they didn’t have a choice. RELATED: Alaska and Hawaiian airlines merger finalized
The flight departed Washington Dulles International Airport at 5:28pm and touched down a little lighter at Los Angeles International Airport at 8:10pm local time. According to the airline, there were no reported injuries.
ABC7 reports: “The cabin crew reported over the radio feeling a “jolt” strong enough to pop open some overhead luggage bins and trigger one emergency oxygen mask to fall from the ceiling.”
“They asked the airport to check the runway to see if perhaps they ran over something on the surface or if they did in fact lose some of the tire.
Crews checked the tarmac surface and confirmed finding pieces of tire. “There’s no reason we can see to discontinue the flight at this point,” a cabin crew member is heard saying on radio traffic. “Just press on to Los Angeles and take care of it there.”
A passenger aboard the flight recorded the landing, which appeared to be smooth but must have been nerve-wracking for all aboard the aircraft. Watch the embedded video below:
#BREAKING: Emergency crews race to a runway at LAX for an Alaska Airlines plane making an emergency landing. A violent jolt in the jet upon takeoff from Dulles Airport deploys oxygen masks and forces open overhead bins. Breaking details from LAX – Tonight at 11 from ABC7. pic.twitter.com/5h9OvYGtSd
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) November 15, 2024
Passengers applauded with relief when the aircraft finally touched down in Los Angeles. First responders were standing by as the plane landed at LAX as a precaution but according to airport officials, the aircraft safely taxied to the gate without disrupting operations.
In a statement about the incident, Alaska Airlines said: “While this incident is a rare occurrence, our flight crews train extensively to safely manage through many scenarios. We understand this might have been a concerning moment for our guests on board. We apologize for what they experienced.”
The aircraft, a Boeing 737-900, will be taken out of service for a thorough investigation.
KEEP READING:
–12 passport tips that will save you time, money and headaches
–The most important thing I do when I travel internationally is …
–Rick Steves got pickpocketed in Paris: Here’s what he wants you to know
–The most important thing for travelers to do according to a safety expert
–What you need to know about renewing or getting an emergency passport in the U.S.
Want more travel news, tips and deals? Sign up to Johnny Jet’s free newsletter and check out these popular posts: The Travel Gadget Flight Attendants Never Leave Home Without and 12 Ways to Save Money on Baggage Fees. Follow Johnny Jet on MSN, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube for all of my travel posts.
