Alaska Airlines pilot Emily Whiprood recently shared her harrowing experience of safely landing a flight after a door plug blew out midair in January. The incident occurred shortly after takeoff from Portland, causing a loud explosion and a rush of air in the cockpit.
Whiprood described the moment of the incident as hearing a loud bang and feeling her body forced forward. Despite the chaos, she remained calm and focused on ensuring the safety of the passengers and crew on board.
Upon landing the aircraft, Whiprood was unaware of the hole in the plane until then. She recalled the intense noise and difficulty in communication with air traffic control due to the damage caused by the sudden decompression.
As she opened the flight deck door, Whiprood was met with a scene of calmness among the passengers, with hundreds of eyes looking back at her. She quickly checked on her flight attendants and passengers, relieved to find that everyone was safe, although there were some injuries reported.
Whiprood's initial concern upon hearing about empty seats was the fear of losing passengers, but thankfully, all 177 souls on board survived the ordeal. The pilot expressed her shock and disbelief at the situation but commended the response and cooperation of everyone on the flight.
This remarkable story serves as a testament to the professionalism and quick thinking of pilots like Emily Whiprood, who prioritize the safety and well-being of those entrusted to their care during challenging situations.
