Alaska Airlines traveller’s iPhone survives fall from 16,000 ft, picture of handset in perfect condition goes viral

Alaska Airlines traveller’s iPhone found in perfect condition after it dropped from 16,000 ft. Photo Courtesy:  Seanathan Bates X page and X page video grab

iPhone users can feel relaxed when it comes to the durability of the device and this was proved during the recent mid-air crisis faced by an Alaska Airlines flight from Portland in Oregon to Ontario in California, which made an emergency landing after take-off after a window and a piece of fuselage blew out in midair.

The flight data showed the plane climbed to 16,000 ft (4,876 m) before returning to Portland International Airport, media reports said.

Now, a man’s X post might give users of iPhone some moment to relax as he claimed he found the gadget still in aeroplane mode with half a battery, on the side of a road.

He also shared an image of the phone on X.

X user Seanathan Bates wrote: “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 in tact!”

“When I called it in, Zoe at @NTSB said it was the SECOND phone to be found. No door yet,” he said.

Oregon mid-flight blowout

A passenger airline made an emergency landing in the US state of Oregon on Friday (January 5, 2024) after a section of its fuselage blew open mid-air.

The Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 returned to Portland 35 minutes into its flight to California after an outer section, including a window, fell, reported BBC.

The airline major said the aircraft landed safely back at Portland International Airport with 171 guests and 6 crew members.