Stock image of view inside a plane.Photo:Getty Images
Getty Images
A flight traveling from Hawaii to Alaska had to turn back after a bathroom sink soaked the aircraft’s floor.
Alaska Airlines Flight 828 departed from Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport at 10:16 p.m., on Friday, March 29, according toFlightAware, a flight tracking website.
The Boeing 737 Max 9 jet was headed to Anchorage when “an issue with water from the lavatory sink shortly after takeoff” occurred, the airline said in a statement to PEOPLE.
“There was probably two to four inches of standing water that swooshed out as soon as you opened that front door of the lavatory," Parker told the outlet. “I would say an hour and a half into the flight is when we noticed the water and it was significant. The entire floorboards of that airplane [were] completely wet.”
FlightAware data shows that the plane was in the air for two hours and 18 minutes, traveling only 842 miles of its 2,783-mile flight before heading back to Honolulu.
Alaska Airlines told PEOPLE that the aircraft arrived safely at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport around 12:30 a.m.
“Unfortunately, due to a lack of available aircraft for a swap, the flight had to be canceled. We promptly reaccommodated our guests on alternative flights. We apologize to our guests for the inconvenience this caused and commend the crew for their actions to ensure the well-being and comfort of our guests,” their statement added.
Stock image of seats on an airplane.Frontpoint/Getty
The incident occurred days after the airlineissued a statement regarding its use of Boeing airplanes.
“For nearly 60 years, Alaska Airlines has flown Boeing airplanes. We share more than a hometown with Boeing; we share a passion for flying and a commitment to safety,” the Monday, March 25 statement read.
“We know the people behind the planes, who have dedicated their careers over these decades to make air travel better and safer. Alaska Airlines is committed to Boeing, and we will do everything we can to contribute to the critical work under way to ensure excellence in production quality and safety,” the airline continued.
In early January, Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, which was using a 65 Boeing 737-9 aircraft, had to make an emergency landingafter a door plug detached mid-flight.
Image of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 plane.Stephen Brashear/Getty
Stephen Brashear/Getty
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While Alaska Airlines' fleet of 737-9s was grounded following the incident, the FAAcleared them to return for service later that same month. The incident, however, alsolaunched a criminal investigationandcaused three of the passengers to sue the airline and Boeing for $1 billion.
source: people.com
