Thompson tells air traffic controllers there is a glitch in the stabilizer and the plane is in a full nose-dive. “ We are in vertical dive, ” Thompson says.

A panel came off an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 midair last year in an incident that was nearly disastrous but for the heroics of the crew, according to government investigators.

On August 20, 2023, the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-800 was landing at John Wayne-Orange County Airport in California when the gear failed, sending sparks flying as the engine scraped the runway.

National Transportation Safety Board chairman Jennifer Homendy speaks during a meeting about Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, Tuesday, June 24, 2025. Julia Demaree Nikhinson / AP ...

WATCH: NTSB chair says systemic failures led to door plug flying off Alaska Airlines’ Boeing 737 Max midflight Nation Updated on Jun 24, 2025 1:42 PM EDT — Published on Jun 24, 2025 9:16 AM EDT ...