Advertiser Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links below. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers.
A Newsweek article shared a video from TikTok user @jetset.genius where he’s able to snag an exit row seat on a Southwest flight and wonders why. According to the flight attendant, people are scared to sit there after Alaska Airlines flight 1282 lost a door plug while in flight and had to divert in January.
@jetset.genius Boeing 737 exit rows are wide open these days. Flight attendant said “go for it, no one wants these seats” 😳 Great legroom though! #boeing #boeing737 #boeing737max #southwestairlines #exitrow #airplane #aviation #avgeek #flying #travel #plane #legroom #flightattendant
Alaska Airlines flight AS1282 from Portland International Airport (PDX) to Ontario International Airport (ONT) was forced to return shortly after takeoff when its rear mid-cabin exit door separated. The dramatic scene saw a door plug that was blocking an unused exit fly off while passengers’ phones and even a teenager’s shirt got sucked out of the opening.
This has led to an ongoing investigation with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Transportation Safety Board (NSB), and Boeing all continuing to address issues that were subsequently found in other Alaska and United Airlines aircraft. What could have been an isolated issue has proven to be much more systemic and has exposed lots of issues with Boeing’s manufacturing protocols and apparent corners being cut.
The news has largely died down around Boeing and Alaska flight 1282. Are passengers really still worried about flying Boeing planes? Do they feel differently about exit rows? Anecdotally, I had not heard this was still a thing before seeing the video. I get that people were nervous after the incident, but did not think passengers were still abstaining from the exit rows and the additional leg room that they provide.
Anthony’s Take: I am not nervous about flying Boeing aircraft and know that air travel is one of the safest modes of transportation. Boeing has a mess to continue to clean up with government agencies and airlines. Passengers seemed (in my eyes) to have moved on, but maybe they are still nervous. What do you think?
(Featured Image Credit: KTVL.)
User Generated Content Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat encourages constructive discussions, comments, and questions. Responses are not provided by or commissioned by any bank advertisers. These responses have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the responsibility of the bank advertiser to respond to comments.
1 comment
I’d feel more worried in a United plane than an Alaska one right now but nobody seems concerned.