A ground inspection of an Alaska Airlines Boeing MD-83 that was forced to return to Seattle Tacoma (SeaTac) due to a loss of cabin pressure has uncovered an approximately 12in long, 6in wide (30.5cm long, 15.2cm wide) hole in the fuselage.
Alaska says flight 536 departed SeaTac en route to Burbank, California on December 26. About 20min into the flight at 26,000ft, a loss of cabin pressurization caused the oxygen masks to deploy.
The crew immediately put on their oxygen masks and instructed the 140 passengers to do the same, and initiated a rapid descent back to SeaTac, says Alaska in a message to employees. The aircraft landed safely at 16:53, and no one on board was injured.
A ground inspection of the aircraft found an approximately 12in-by-6in gash in the fuselage between the forward and middle cargo holds. The aircraft, registered as N979AS, was removed from service following the incident and is being repaired, says Alaska.
According to Avsoft’s ACAS database, the MD-83 is a 1996 model owned by Alaska.
US FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) officials are probing the incident, and the carrier is conducting its own full investigation. This includes looking into a report from a Menzies Aviation baggage handler that his ramp vehicle made contact with the aircraft prior to its departure for Burbank. This may have damaged the aircraft’s aluminum skin, causing a hole to open up at altitude, according to the NTSB.
“We are working with the NTSB to review all information relevant to this event and to ensure the ongoing safety of our aircraft both on the ground and in the air,” says Alaska VP of safety Dave Prewitt.
Alaska and its ramp services provider Menzies yesterday conducted safety briefings with ramp employees “to discuss the importance of rapid and thorough reporting of any ground incidents”, says the carrier.
Further meetings will be conducted this week to ensure that all Menzies employees on the ground at SeaTac have been briefed, it says.
MARY KIRBY / PHILADELPHIA
Source: Flight International
