Alaska Airlines Jet Makes Emergency Descent, 12 Inch Hole in Fuselage.

[FN FAL]

Alaska Airline jet makes an emergency descentThe Associated Press

Salt Lake Tribune SEATTLE - A 12-inch hole in the fuselage of an Alaska Airlines jet caused the plane to lose cabin pressure, forcing the pilots to make an emergency descent and return to the airport, authorities said Tuesday.
The incident Monday involved an MD-80 jet en route from Seattle to Burbank, Calif. The plane landed safely at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, and none of the 140 passengers was hurt.
A ramp worker acknowledged that he failed to report immediately striking the plane at the gate Monday with a baggage cart or baggage-belt machine, said Jim Struhsaker, a spokesman for the National Transportation Safety Board.
The worker told the agency that although the vehicle touched the plane, he was not aware he had dented it, Struhsaker said.
The accident created a crease in the plane's aluminum skin, which opened up into a 12-by-6-inch gash as the jet came climbed to 26,000 feet, Struhsaker said.
The crew of Flight 536 reported a loss of cabin pressure about 20 minutes after takeoff, airline spokeswoman Caroline Boren said.

 

[FN FAL]

So anybody got any idea how much the terrorized passengers are going to get out of Alaska for getting the hell scared out of them?

 

[Hipster Loser]

I bet that rampy thought he'd get away with damaging that plane.

At least that crew has another story to tell over some beers.

 

[FN FAL]

I bet that rampy thought he'd get away with damaging that plane.

At least that crew has another story to tell over some beers.

I would imagine that there are some criminal charges coming.

Probably something on the order of reckless endangerment or criminal negligence.

 

[Flip Conroy]

Any "criminal charges" against the crew that missed this gaping hole on the preflight? Or took off after being hit by a vehicle and not realizing it?

 

[FN FAL]

Any "criminal charges" against the crew that missed this gaping hole on the preflight? Or took off after being hit by a vehicle and not realizing it?

I don't know the answer to that question, but the guy that smucked the plane knew that he did it and then through act of omission failed to warn anyone of the danger he/she created. If handlers are working around aircraft and aren't trained properly, the airline and the contractor, could be criminally liable.

 

[FN FAL]

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9A.08.010

RCW 9A.08.010

General requirements of culpability.



</B>(1) Kinds of Culpability Defined.

(a) INTENT. A person acts with intent or intentionally when he acts with the objective or purpose to accomplish a result which constitutes a crime.

(b) KNOWLEDGE. A person knows or acts knowingly or with knowledge when:

(i) he is aware of a fact, facts, or circumstances or result described by a statute defining an offense; or

(ii) he has information which would lead a reasonable man in the same situation to believe that facts exist which facts are described by a statute defining an offense.

(c) RECKLESSNESS. A person is reckless or acts recklessly when he knows of and disregards a substantial risk that a wrongful act may occur and his disregard of such substantial risk is a gross deviation from conduct that a reasonable man would exercise in the same situation.

(d) CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE. A person is criminally negligent or acts with criminal negligence when he fails to be aware of a substantial risk that a wrongful act may occur and his failure to be aware of such substantial risk constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable man would exercise in the same situation.

(2) Substitutes for Criminal Negligence, Recklessness, and Knowledge. When a statute provides that criminal negligence suffices to establish an element of an offense, such element also is established if a person acts intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly. When recklessness suffices to establish an element, such element also is established if a person acts intentionally or knowingly. When acting knowingly suffices to establish an element, such element also is established if a person acts intentionally.

(3) Culpability as Determinant of Grade of Offense. When the grade or degree of an offense depends on whether the offense is committed intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence, its grade or degree shall be the lowest for which the determinative kind of culpability is established with respect to any material element of the offense.

(4) Requirement of Wilfulness Satisfied by Acting Knowingly. A requirement that an offense be committed wilfully is satisfied if a person acts knowingly with respect to the material elements of the offense, unless a purpose to impose further requirements plainly appears.
[1975 1st ex.s. c 260 § 9A.08.010.]

:nuts:

 

[njcapt]

Any "criminal charges" against the crew that missed this gaping hole on the preflight? Or took off after being hit by a vehicle and not realizing it?

You should really go back to lurking more. Maybe when you get a little more experience you won't pop off with clueless babble like that.

On the remote chance you weren't just flaming, most crew preflight inspections get done 30-60 minutes prior to take off - well before most of the aircraft servicing and loading is done. MD-80's are big aircraft and a tap from a belt loader or catering truck probably wouldn't be felt by the crew. In any event, lots of noise is normally heard during the baggage loading process.

 

[propsarebest]

the pax on board said they heard a pop, then the masks dropped, which to me, means that the hole wasn't there before...

 

[troy]

Any "criminal charges" against the crew that missed this gaping hole on the preflight? Or took off after being hit by a vehicle and not realizing it?

There was no hole on the ground, only creased skin. The hole was created by the pressurization system