**Title: Door Plug Found by Schoolteacher in Portland Provides Clues in Alaska Airlines Flight Incident**
**Introduction**
In a significant development, a schoolteacher in Portland discovered the missing door plug from an Alaska Airlines flight that experienced a midair emergency. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) expressed their satisfaction with the find, as it could potentially provide crucial insights into the incident. This article explores the discovery and its implications for the ongoing investigation.
**The Discovery**
Late on Sunday night, authorities announced that a schoolteacher named “Bob” had located the blown-off door plug from the Alaska Airlines flight in his backyard. NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy expressed her gratitude for Bob’s discovery and explained that the piece would be analyzed to gain further understanding of the midair emergency.
**Unlocking Clues**
Chairwoman Homendy interrupted her briefing to reporters to share the breaking news of the door plug’s recovery. This finding is expected to assist investigators in unraveling the events that led to the hole in the aircraft during the flight from Oregon to Southern California.
**Passenger Cellphones Recovered**
Apart from the door plug, at least two passenger cellphones that fell out of the plane were also recovered. Surprisingly, these devices still retained some functionality. One image, verified by ABC News, displayed a passenger’s luggage receipt on the screen of one of the recovered cellphones.
**Importance of the Door Plug**
The door plug falling out at an altitude of 16,000 feet proved fortunate as passengers were still required to be seated and wearing seatbelts. The Boeing 737-9 Max aircraft is equipped with an extra emergency exit, which is typically utilized by foreign airlines accommodating more passengers. However, for domestic flights like Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, which have fewer seats, a door plug is used to cover the opening.
**Configuration Differences**
Indonesia’s Lion Air and Corendon Dutch Airlines, with over 200 seats on their Max 9s, require the additional emergency exits. In contrast, Alaska Airlines and United Airlines configure their 737 Max 9s with fewer than 180 seats, allowing them to comply with U.S. evacuation regulations without the mid-cabin exits. Instead, these airlines use a permanent plug the size of an exit door.
**Passenger Concerns**
The incident has raised concerns among some passengers regarding air travel, particularly on Boeing jets. Sharleen Gill, a traveler at Hollywood Burbank Airport, expressed her disappointment, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the proper functioning of aircraft components.
**Conclusion**
The discovery of the door plug by a schoolteacher in Portland has provided a breakthrough in the investigation into the Alaska Airlines flight incident. The NTSB will carefully analyze the recovered piece to gain valuable insights into the midair emergency. This incident serves as a reminder of the critical role played by all aircraft components in ensuring passenger safety.
