Passenger Broke Elbow Using Slide During Alaska Airlines Evacuation

On August twenty third, 2021, an Alaska Airways flight from Louis Armstrong New Orleans Worldwide Airport (MSY) to Seattle Tacoma Worldwide (SEA) skilled a cellphone fireplace onboard resulting in the deployment of the plane’s evacuation slides. Almost a full 12 months has handed and the Nationwide Transportation Security Board has launched its remaining report on the incident, which noticed one “critical” harm, along with three minor accidents.

Incident background

An Alaska Airways Boeing 737-900, registered N479AS, had simply carried out flight AS751 from New Orleans to Seattle and was on the bottom when a passenger’s smartphone caught fireplace. When the incident arose, the plane was ready to maneuver right into a gate, having taxied to the apron.

An official airline assertion notes that “a passenger’s cellphone…overheated and commenced sparking,”

Cabin crews acted shortly and extinguished the fireplace. What remained of the machine was put right into a containment bag. Nonetheless, smoke that had already emanated from the machine, along with a robust scent, compelled the evacuation of the plane by way of slides.

The NTSB report states:

Citing the airport as a supply, The Aviation Herald notes that the smartphone that triggered the incident was a Samsung Galaxy A21.

NTSB report particulars

Whereas we had already lined this story fairly quickly after the incident occurred, the NTSB report has a number of extra particulars.

11 months within the making, the ultimate report discloses that one passenger incurred a critical harm whereas three others sustained minor accidents. With the NTSB notes that “one passenger broke their elbow whereas descending on the evacuation slide,” With this being the one harm talked about within the report, it’s presumed that this was the one categorized as critical.

Accidents throughout evacuation

In line with SKYbrary, over 80% of reported accidents whereas utilizing emergency slides are categorized as minor accidents. The web site provides that probably the most critical evacuation-associated accidents have been the results of leaping out of exits or off of wings.

Widespread slide-related causes of harm embrace:

• Friction from slide floor
• Affect with the bottom on the backside of the slide
• Falling ahead onto the pavement after reaching backside of the slide
• Helping different passengers with exiting the slide on the backside
• Nervousness from evacuation

Typical minor accidents embrace sprains, scrapes, abrasions and contusions whereas extra critical injury can embrace fractured or damaged bones in addition to main bruises and lacerations.

Have you ever ever had to make use of an emergency slide earlier than? Share your experiences by leaving a remark.

Sources: The Aviation Herald, NTSB, Skybrary