Originally Posted by
phonestand
On United's 737 Max 9, what is the row number where the Alaska 737 Max 9 hole was located?
Also... losing pressure at 16,000 is probably not a joke? When I was in the Swiss Alps several years ago, one of my traveling companion had extreme trouble breathing. That was just a little over 11,000 feet and we went up there slowly by train.
It was a surprise to the rest of us because he ran marathons a few times a week and was in very good shape. After being administered oxygen for about 30 minutes, he recovered and was okay.
I can't imagine what happens when an airplane suddenly losing pressure at 16,000 can do to some of the passengers.
16,000 was a news report. It appears the door departed the aircraft between 13 and 14,000 but no higher than 15,000 if the ADSB data is correct. The aircraft would have continued to climb for a short period of time after the plug loss. You are allowed by the FAA to fly a unpressurized aircraft up to 12,500 feet without restriction and up to 14,000 feet for 30 minutes. Since it was cold their pressure altitude would have been lower than actual. I can’t remember the pressurization schedule for the 737 but I suspect when the door left it was probably about 2psi. At cruise altitude it would have been closer to 8 psi. Is very fortunate that it happened at low altitude. Had it been higher there would have been a very different result. In addition because the door basically almost fell out there appears to be no airframe damage. All they need is a new plug and sidewall repair. It will be a quick fix.
