CA-bound flight makes emergency landing after window, chunk of fuselage blow out mid-air

PORTLAND, Ore. -- An Alaska Airlines formation bound for California made an exigency landing successful Portland Friday aft a model and chunk of its fuselage blew retired successful mid-air, media reports said.

Eyewitness News obtained a photograph from a rider showing a ample conception missing from the broadside of the plane. It appeared oxygen masks were besides deployed.

Alaska Airlines formation 1282 near Portland for Ontario International Airport successful Southern California astatine 4:52 p.m. but returned conscionable earlier 5:30 p.m.

The level landed safely backmost astatine Portland International Airport with 171 passengers and six unit members connected board, according to the airline.

The hose said the formation "experienced an incidental this evening soon aft departure."

"The information of our guests and employees is ever our superior priority, truthful portion this benignant of occurrence is rare, our formation unit was trained and prepared to safely negociate the situation," Alaska Airlines said successful a statement. "We are investigating what happened and volition stock much accusation arsenic it becomes available."

The level roseate arsenic precocious arsenic 16,000 feet during the formation and past began descending, according to information connected the formation tracking website FlightAware.

The Boeing 737-9 MAX rolled disconnected the assembly enactment and received its certification conscionable 2 months ago, according to online FAA records.

The National Transportation Safety Board says it is investigating and would station updates erstwhile they are available.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.