Anxious about flying lately? Viral footage and stories surrounding the terrifying Alaska Airlines flight that lost a side panel after taking off from Portland may add to some travel fears, despite every passenger and crew member's miraculously safe escape during the isolated incident.
A flaw with the Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft, this plane was subsequently grounded in January by the FAA due to safety concerns and all flights booked on this aircraft were rebooked for other planes.
Following the three-week review and inspection process, the legendary aircraft is set to take off again on all airlines. Great? The panel of the plane fell out due to loose bolts, which were then found on several more aircraft (and subsequently tightened). Do with that info what you will.
To prove the brand's confidence in the aircraft's safety, Alaska Airline's COO Constance von Muehlen sat in the seat next to the door plug (the one that blew off on a similar plane), on the first flight from Seattle to San Diego. The plane stayed intact.
Still, if you want to avoid this type of plane, it's possible. When you're booking a flight, simply Google the flight code, and you will see the aircraft assigned to the route. Most airline sites will also show it, and second party platforms also have this detail. Kayak, in fact, just added a feature for travelers to search flights by specific 737 Max 8 and Max 9 aircraft models, should they want the thrill of a lifetime, or to avoid unnecessary anxiety.
Of course, aircraft can be changed, particularly with flights booked far in advance, but passengers may also have the option to cancel or change their flights should the transportation not be up to their standards.
In the U.S., Alaska Airlines and United Airlines are currently the only carriers using the 737 Max 9, so if you fear boarding this plane, just avoid these airlines.