Alaska Airlines passenger recounts belongings sucked out during Boeing aircraft panel blowout

As reported by the New York Post, Tran said the Jan. 5 incident posed a life-threatening situation for him as the aircraft’s door panel came off while flying at an altitude of 16,000 feet, leading to his shoes and cellphone being ejected through a large opening. The flight was en route from Seattle to Ontario, California.

A door plug area of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft awaiting inspection is pictured with paneling removed at the airline's facilities at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. Photo by AP

Tran shared how the abrupt decompression also caused his body to lift before his lower body was dragged towards the breach, describing it as the most uncontrollable moment he has ever experienced.

"I remember my body getting lifted up," he said. "Then my whole lower body got sucked down by howling wind."

He recounted clinging on "for dear life."

Concluding after 30 minutes as the aircraft achieved an emergency landing at Portland International Airport, the ordeal seemed to extend "much longer" to him.

Furthermore, despite swift action, Tran, along with six other passengers and one flight attendant, suffered injuries. He is currently recuperating from a severe leg injury, which he worries might result in a permanent mark.

Yahoo! News has covered Tran’s commencement of legal proceedings as he, joined by six other passengers, has filed a lawsuit against the aircraft’s manufacturer Boeing, Alaska Airlines, and Spirit AeroSystems.

The lawsuit cites a preliminary analysis by U.S. regulators which has pointed out the absence of four bolts, intended to secure the door plug, as the cause of the accident. It consequently seeks punitive, compensatory, and general damages for alleged negligence, liability concerning product construction or manufacturing defects, and failure to safeguard passengers.

The National Transportation Safety Board has announced a two-day hearing to investigate the incident scheduled for the beginning of August.

This legal action is in addition to another suit filed the previous month by 22 passengers of the same flight, which accuses Boeing and Alaska Airlines of negligence.