Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Suffers Hard Landing, Badly Damaged

On 20th August 2023, an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 sustained substantial damage after a heavy landing at Santa Ana Airport in California. Apparently, the B737 landed so hard in the winds that the landing gear punctured the wing.

The Boeing 737-800 with registration N516AS, was operating flight AS1288 from Seattle to Santa Ana, California. However, on landing at Santa Ana, the B737 suffered a left main gear collapse, leading to the left engine dragging on the ground.

Flight AS1288 stopped on the taxiway where it was attended by firefighters to escort the passengers safely to the terminal. Due to the heavy impact, the left main gear reportedly punctured through the wing, which grounded the aircraft.

Footages shared on the internet show the extent of damage sustained by the aircraft, with some photos indicating that the MLG mount broke through the upper wing skin.

Thankfully, no one was injured. Firefighters worked with airport staff and the pilots to safely get everyone off the plane. The airport arranged a shuttle that drove up to the aircraft as the firefighters made sure everyone could safely disembark from the aircraft.

“Last night amid the rain and wind our crews were called to John Wayne Airport when a 737 experienced an issue while taxiing to the gate after landing. Fortunately, no one was injured. They were however stranded.”

Orange County Fire Authority Spokesperson

“Airport emergencies are just one of the many things OCFA firefighters train on. That joint training with airport staff makes these incidents run smoothly,” continued the spokesperson.

Feature Image via Orange County Fire Authority