Pilot of Alaska Airlines flight with broken door stopper speaks about incident – ​​KIRO 7 News Seattle

We first heard from one of the pilots of the Boeing plane that lost a doorstop over Portland in January.

She says the Alaska Airlines flight crew initially had no idea what was wrong with the plane.

Pilot Emily Wiprud said she heard an explosion and a burst of air before she had to concentrate on getting the plane on the ground.

Kris Van Cleave, CBS News chief transportation and national correspondent: “Did you know at that point that there was a hole in the plane?”

Wiprud: “No. I didn't know the plane had a hole until we landed.”

The door plug flew off the Boeing plane as it climbed to an altitude of about 5,000 meters. Several people were injured and the suction force even ripped the clothes off some passengers.

Everyone survived, but the crew did not immediately realize this.

Wiprud: “I looked at my flight attendants and asked, 'Are you OK?' And the answer I heard was, 'Hole. Four, five empty seats and injured people.'”

From Cleave: “And when you heard about empty seats, did you think you had lost people?”

Wiprud: “Yes.”

Wiprud told CBS News she was relieved that all passengers were there. She and her captain will be honored by the Airline Pilots Association on Thursday for the safe landing.

The incident sparked numerous federal investigations, lawsuits and changes at Boeing.

Former CEO David Calhoun was forced to resign in the wake of the security crisis. His successor, Kelly Ortberg, took over the company last month.

Boeing and its production plans are under the supervision of an FAA inspector who is tasked with ensuring that the company and its employees adhere to a corrective action plan.

The company has also delayed production of additional aircraft for the time being.

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