Alaska Airlines flight returns due to mechanical issue shortly after takeoff

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Alaska Airlines flight returns due to mechanical issue shortly after takeoff

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Airbus A380 | Airbus

By Sky Industry News

Dec 27, 2024

An Alaska Airlines flight from California to Washington State was forced to return to San Jose on Christmas Day due to a mechanical issue identified shortly after takeoff. The Boeing 737-900, registered as N309AS, departed from Mineta International Airport for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport but had to turn back around ten minutes into the flight.

According to Flightradar24 data, the aircraft completed one loop over San Jose before heading north. It reached an altitude of 14,700 feet before leveling out over Pleasanton and turning back towards San Jose. The plane landed safely at approximately 10:50 local time.

Local news outlet KRON 4 reported that the aircraft returned due to a mechanical issue. A spokesperson for San Jose Mineta International Airport confirmed they were notified about the returning plane and had placed operations and fire services on standby as a precaution.

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Alaska Airlines stated that "flight 1130 from San Jose, Calif. (SJC) to Seattle (SEA) returned to SJC without incident following a mechanical issue indication in the flight deck of a Boeing 737-900." They added, "Our pilots are trained for situations like this, and we thank them for their professionalism in handling the situation."

Once back in San Jose, mechanics quickly resolved the problem. "The aircraft was evaluated by our maintenance team, who were able to repair the issue," said Alaska Airlines. The plane departed again at 12:37 PM and landed in Seattle nearly two hours later than initially scheduled.

The aircraft involved was first ordered by Alaska Airlines on December 23rd, 1999, took its maiden flight on July 12th, 2001, and is not expected to retire until April 2025 at the earliest.