Tech resilience: iPhone survives fall from Alaska Airlines plane unharmed

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KUWAIT CITY, Jan 9: During a recent Alaska Airlines flight, a door plug unexpectedly detached minutes after takeoff, causing objects to be suctioned out of the aircraft and fall approximately 16,000 feet. Surprisingly, an iPhone was among the items that survived the 16,000-foot drop intact. Washington resident Sean Bates discovered the device on the side of the road, still in airplane mode with half a battery, displaying details related to the plane incident.

Bates, who shared the discovery on Twitter and TikTok, initially hesitated, thinking the phone might have been thrown from a car. However, upon inspection, he found it clean and unscratched, with no screen lock. Intriguingly, the phone contained travel confirmation and baggage claim information for Alaska Airlines ASA1282, the flight involved in the incident.

Bates promptly reported his find to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), learning that it was the second phone recovered from the plane. The NTSB confirmed the discovery of two cell phones, one found on the side of the road and another in a yard. Notably, various components, including headrests, a seat back, and a tray table, were also ejected during the incident.

The door plug that covered the exit door was located in a teacher’s backyard near Portland, Oregon, the departure city where the plane had to make an emergency landing. Boeing 737 Max 9s, the aircraft type involved, have been grounded by the FAA until safety is assured. This precaution has resulted in the cancellation of over 300 Alaska Airlines and United Airlines flights, as these two carriers are the only US passenger airlines operating this aircraft model.

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