Posted on 12/27/2005 6:34:42 PM PST by paulat
Hole found in Alaska plane
05:30 PM PST on Tuesday, December 27, 2005 KING5.com
Investigators: Problems spike after ramp work outsourced
SEATTLE – An Alaska Airlines plane was forced to return to Seattle Monday after a gash in the plane’s fuselage caused the aircraft to lose pressurization.
The incident began when a ramp worker hit the plane with a baggage cart or baggage belt machine, according to National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Jim Struhsaker.
The accident created a crease in the skin of the plane which opened up into a hole when the pressure on the plane changed at 26,000 feet.
The employee told the agency that although the vehicle had touched the plane, he was not aware that he had dented it.
“At that time in the driving rain it did not appear to be significant to him,” Stuhsaker said.
According to Alaska Airlines and accounts provided to KING 5 News by passengers, flight 536 took off from Sea-Tac at 3:50 p.m., bound for Burbank, Calif.
Alaska Airlines flight 536 was forced to return to Sea-Tac Monday after it lost cabin pressure. Passenger Jeremy Hermanns took this snapshot of the scene after the oxygen masks had dropped down.
About 10 or 20 minutes into the flight, there was a loud noise and the cabin lost pressure. The plane then descended rapidly before returning to Sea-Tac, said Caroline Boren, a spokeswoman for Alaska Airlines.
Passenger accounts of the incident paint a scary picture.
“I could feel that obviously my ears popping and that's not a good symbol and that didn't go away and then it got hard to breathe and then whoosh all the compression in the plane was lost. We totally decompressed,” said passenger Jeremy Hermanns.
He said everyone on board scrambled to get their masks on and then the engine noise became very loud.
“We knew that something was going on … it was definitely frightening. It wasn't something I wanted to do again,” he said.
Jeremy Hermanns shot this image of himself with his oxygen mask on after the plane he was on lost cabin pressure.
Hermann’s believes, nevertheless that the crew handled the situation well.
“I'm just very glad that the pilots and the crew and everybody handled it so well,” he said.
"Example of non-union aircraft production"
At least the engines were made in an iam open shop in the usa.
Fierce thinks I'm always 69....,
he's 70....
He comes after me.
Yikes! 72??? Alaska Airlines better get their act together.
No clue about undocumented, but I wouldn't be surprised.
I prefer 68. I KNOW you know the meaning.
It was my freshman football # as well.
I owe you one.
;-)
I have bookmarked this post as evidence!
I lied.
Oh Christ, now I'm gonna go commit suicide.
Ground crew ping!
Can I get the bulldozer then?
8^)
Hey F.A. I'm so JELOUS!!!
8^(
Hope you all have a Happy New Year!!!!
xxoo
SISU
It's got 2 sticks though. You would get all confuzzled.
How you been? Merry Christmas & Happy New year!
I really haven't been ignore you guys (and gals) but work first, play second (unless it's with my Grandson, who just turned 10 mo. old on Dec 17th) Yep, that's right, another Aquarius, just like you (and my Wife)!!!
Hope all is well with you and yours!
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you too!
Has he started swim lessons yet?
My company did very well this year, also. So much for all the MSM bad economy banter. Kids are great, but we are hoping 2006 will be better.
Are you assuming I've never had anything with two sticks?
;-)
Happy Kwanzaa to you too!
;-)
No, but his Daddy is a Pisces (like is Grandpa) and were both itchin' to get him into the water. The boy is curious about everything, and fears nothing!
I'm so blessed to have an entirely new center to my universe!
Ding, Ding, Ding
We have a winner
Name the airline and the name of that airline B4 all those folks died (and it was subcontracted maint there as well)
Before and after if you will.
Did the transportation systems of the 1970s need deregulating or updated regulations?
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