Flight Attendants Recall Terror of Mid-Air Panel Blowout

Flight attendants on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 feared passengers were sucked out when a panel blew out mid-air on January 5. Harrowing testimonies reveal the crew's frantic attempts to manage the chaos. The NTSB is examining Boeing's manufacturing processes and FAA oversight to prevent future incidents.

Flight attendants on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet feared passengers had been sucked out of the plane after a mid-air panel blowout on January 5, according to harrowing testimony released by safety experts. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has organized a two-day hearing to investigate the incident.

Comments gathered from flight attendants provided dramatic accounts of their efforts to help passengers and maintain communication with the pilots when a panel blew off the jet at 16,000 feet shortly after taking off from Portland, Oregon.

The incident has turned into a significant financial and reputational crisis for Boeing. The NTSB is examining 737 manufacturing processes and the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) oversight, aiming to issue recommendations to prevent future occurrences.

(With inputs from agencies.)