Brentwood students, faculty stuck in Hawaii after plane grounding

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Twenty students and two faculty members with the Brentwood Academy are stuck in Hawaii after the grounding of all Alaska Airlines flights on Boeing 737 Max 9 planes.

The students and faculty traveled to Hawaii to participate in the school’s “Winterim” program, which offers a range of educational travel courses every January.

The group was scheduled to return on Saturday, Jan. 6th. However, on Friday, a window of an Alaska Airlines plane blew out mid-flight.

“We are thankful for God’s provision over this group and the many other students who traveled over the winter break,” Jennifer Smith, a spokesperson for Brentwood Academy, said.

After the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration grounded all Max 9 jetliners operated by Alaska Airlines for maintenance and mandatory inspections. Flights scheduled on the planes have been canceled through Saturday.

Since the group couldn’t return to Nashville until Jan. 11, Smith said they made the most of their unique educational experience.

“We received news of one of our students being baptized when the group had the unexpected opportunity to attend an ocean-side church service on Sunday,” Smith said.

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