SEATTLE (January 6, 2024) — Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO (AFA) President Sara Nelson, representing 50,000 Flight Attendants at 19 airlines including Alaska Airlines, released the following statement:
"Flight Attendants are trained for emergencies and we work every flight for aviation safety first and foremost. Last night, Flight Attendants working Alaska Flight 1282 performed our jobs with skill and professionalism to care for passengers after what has been described as an explosive decompression at a window/plugged door.
"The Flight Attendants and Pilots of Alaska 1282 ensured all passengers and crew arrived safely back on the ground. We commend the entire crew.
"Alaska Airlines has announced the temporary grounding of the Boeing 737-9 MAX aircraft fleet. Our Union strongly believes this decision is a prudent and necessary step toward ensuring the safety of all crew and passengers. We will closely monitor the safety inspection process to ensure that aircraft are not returned to service until they are deemed safe for all.
"Our union is supporting the crew. We will provide more information as it becomes available, making sure to support all efforts to review the incident and ensure its lessons are applied to all aspects of aviation safety. AFA EAP is always available to support any Flight Attendant at 800-424-2406."
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The Association of Flight Attendants is the Flight Attendant union. Focused 100 percent on Flight Attendant issues, AFA has been the leader in advancing the Flight Attendant profession for over 78 years. Serving as the voice for Flight Attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill, AFA has transformed the Flight Attendant profession by raising wages, benefits and working conditions. Nearly 50,000 Flight Attendants come together to form AFA, part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afacwa.org.
