What to know if your flight is cancelled after emergency landing at PDX

United Airlines has stated to KGW that it has halted operations involving the Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft, after Flight No. 1282 made an emergency landing in Portland's International Airport (PDX). The reason for the emergency landing was due to a panel on the side of the aircraft blowing out mid-flight. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) followed the incident by declaring a temporary halt on all models for inspection.

"United is now suspending service on chosen Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft for an inspection stipulated by the FAA. We're liaising with affected customers to offer alternate travel arrangements," relayed United Airlines via email. Of the 79 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft in United's fleet, about 33 have undergone the FAA inspection. The FAA expects about 60 cancellations today, as the aircraft are pulled from service. The FAA added that each aircraft inspection would last roughly 4-8 hours, with a total of 171 aircraft affected around the world.

"Safety is our prime focus as we collaborate with the NTSB in investigating the incident with Alaska Airlines Flight 1282,” FAA Administrator, Mike Whitaker, stated. With reference to FlyPDX, Alaska Airlines cancelled five flights on Saturday morning, all being Boeing 737 MAX 9s with the exception of one. Other airlines, namely American Airlines, Delta, and Allegiant, unaffected by the situation as they operate Airbus fleets.

From its fleet of 65 737 Max 9 aircraft, Alaska Airlines informed that 18 have undergone recent maintenance checks on the exit panels and have been authorized to resume service on Saturday. The rest are expected to be inspected in a few days, the airline added.

The Association of Flight Attendants CWA, along with the crew of Alaska Flight 1282, lauded the FAA's decision. "We advocate the FAA's swift and definite action on grounding select 737 MAX 9 aircraft that were unable to fulfill the requisite inspection rounds as stated in the Emergency Airworthiness Directive," announced Union President, Sara Nelson.

A team from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was dispatched on Saturday to Portland to conduct an investigation. Towards the end of last year, the FAA commenced reviewing the aircraft for a potential loose bolt within the rudder control system.

Greg Morris, a commercial pilot with over two decades of experience, raised concerns about the plane, which entered service recently in November, facing such a problem. According to Morris and the FAA, the Boeing 737 Max 9s are equipped with composite inlets around their engines, which can break off due to extreme heat, potentially striking the aircraft's frame.

After the incident, Boeing commented, "While acknowledging the issues experienced by our customers and passengers, we prioritize safety above all and are in full agreement with the FAA's decision to mandate immediate inspections of 737 9 airplanes similar to the plane affected. Additionally, a Boeing technical team is aiding the NTSB's investigation into this recent event. We remain in perpetual communication with both our regulator and customers."

Despite the alarming incident, passengers appreciated the composed and efficient reactions of the Alaska Airlines crew. "The crew aboard the cabin was nothing short of excellent. The pilot, too, did a commendable job. I have nothing negative to say about them," said holiday visitor to Portland, Evan Smith. Another passenger named Elizabeth added, "Amid the situation, everyone remained calm and strapped in their seatbelts." Morris emphasized the importance of paying heed to flight instructions and identifying emergency exits in light of such incidents.