Alaska Airlines 737-900ER Returns to Sea-Tac After Pressure Loss

SEATTLE — An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-900ER made an unscheduled return to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport following a cabin pressurization malfunction Tuesday morning.

Flight 825, en route from Seattle to Kahului, Hawaii, reported the issue approximately 90 minutes after departure while cruising at 34,000 feet. The crew initiated an emergency descent to 9,000 feet and landed safely on Runway 34R around 11 a.m. local time with no injuries reported.

The Federal Aviation Administration has launched a formal investigation into the incident. The aircraft involved, tail number N462AS, has been grounded pending review. A replacement Boeing 737-900ER completed the flight to Hawaii approximately six hours later. The incident highlights ongoing pressurization concerns within the 737-900ER fleet, following previous FAA inquiries regarding similar systems.