Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX returns safely after emergency caused by electrical smell

While the source of the electrical smell is still unknown, such odors are considered serious by airline crews because they may signal issues like malfunctioning equipment or short circuits. These can pose health risks for passengers and crew and may indicate potential fire hazards if not addressed quickly. Guidance from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) classifies these events as Cabin Air Quality Events (CAQEs), ranging from minor irritants to significant air contamination requiring immediate action by flight crews.

According to IATA guidance, when odors are persistent or cause physical symptoms, standard procedure includes turning back or making an emergency landing. In this case, Alaska Airlines’ crew followed established safety protocols by returning promptly to Seattle.

This incident follows other recent odor-related emergencies involving Alaska Airlines flights. In April, a Las Vegas-bound Boeing 737-800 was forced to return to Portland International Airport due to a strong odor in the cockpit that made flight attendants feel unwell. Fire crews met that aircraft on arrival but found no fire.

Another event occurred in September 2024 when Alaska Airlines Flight 810 diverted to Honolulu shortly after leaving Kauai for Seattle following reports of an unknown odor in the cabin that caused four flight attendants to become ill.

Alaska Airlines is a full-service carrier based at several hubs including Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and is part of the oneworld alliance. The airline was founded in 1932 and is led by CEO Ben Minicucci.