iPhone endures 16,000-foot fall from Alaska Airlines flight

In a stunning turn of events, an iPhone defied the odds, surviving a 16,000-foot fall from an Alaska Airlines flight, according to reports confirmed by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The incident unfolded during Alaska Airlines ASA 1282’s journey from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, California, when a shattered window on the Boeing 737-9 MAX aircraft led to items, including phones, being sucked out mid-air.

The NTSB not only verified the incident but also revealed the discovery of another iPhone that remained in working condition after the dramatic fall. Although the official model of the recovered iPhone is yet to be confirmed, photos shared on social media suggest it could be either an iPhone 14 Pro or 15 Pro. Notably, the device was equipped with a hard protective case.

Seanathan Bates shared images of the recovered iPhone on social media platform X, recounting the astonishing find. He stated, “Found an iPhone on the side of the road… Still in airplane mode with half a battery and open to a baggage claim for #AlaskaAirlines ASA1282. Survived a 16,000-foot drop perfectly intact! When I called it in, Zoe at @NTSB said it was the SECOND phone to be found.”

The iPhone, discovered on Barnes Road, exhibited remarkable resilience, appearing completely unaffected by the free fall from the aircraft. Bates mentioned that the device was still in airplane mode, had half its battery remaining, and was open to a baggage claim. Intriguingly, it activated the in-flight mode and SOS mode during the fall.

Alaska Airlines responded to the mid-air incident by grounding its fleet of 65 Boeing 737-9 aircraft. The emergency ensued when a window and part of the fuselage blew out, causing the cabin to depressurize shortly after takeoff. The plane ascended to 16,000 feet before safely returning to Portland International Airport with 174 passengers and six crew members on board.

Despite the astonishing survival of the iPhone, the airline is yet to locate the missing window that was presumably the source of the in-flight emergency. The incident has sparked safety concerns, leading to a thorough investigation by aviation authorities.

While the recovered iPhone stands as a testament to the unexpected outcomes of such emergencies, questions linger about the cause of the shattered window and the broader implications for aircraft safety. The NTSB’s confirmation of the incident adds credibility to the astonishing narrative of a smartphone defying the forces of gravity and surviving a fall from the sky. As the investigation unfolds, the miraculous resilience of the iPhone serves as a focal point amid the broader concerns surrounding the mid-air emergency on Alaska Airlines ASA 1282.

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