Alaska Airlines Faces Challenges: Off-Duty Pilot and Door Plug Incident
Alaska Airlines has recently encountered a series of unfortunate events. In October 2023, an off-duty Alaska pilot, under the influence of mushrooms, attempted to shut off a plane’s engines mid-flight. More recently, a door plug on a Boeing 737-Max 9 aircraft tore off while the plane was flying at an altitude of 16,000 feet. These incidents have raised concerns about the safety and reliability of Alaska Airlines.
Off-Duty Pilot’s Attempt to Shut Off Engines
In a bizarre incident last October, an off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot made headlines when he tried to turn off the engines of a plane while under the influence of mushrooms. The incident occurred during a flight, causing panic among passengers and crew members. Fortunately, the situation was brought under control, and no one was harmed. However, this incident raised serious questions about the airline’s screening process for pilots and their mental health evaluation protocols.
Door Plug Rips from Boeing 737-Max 9 Fuselage
In another alarming incident earlier this month, a door plug on a Boeing 737-Max 9 aircraft detached from the fuselage while the plane was flying at an altitude of 16,000 feet. The sudden loss of the door plug created a significant safety risk for the passengers and crew on board. The pilots managed to land the aircraft safely, but this incident has raised concerns about the maintenance and inspection procedures of Alaska Airlines’ fleet.
These recent incidents have highlighted the need for Alaska Airlines to reassess its safety protocols and ensure the well-being of its passengers. The airline must take immediate action to address these issues and regain the trust of the flying public.