iPhones Survive 16,000-Foot Drop from Alaska Airlines Flight

In an extraordinary display of durability, two iPhones survived a fall from 16,000 feet during an emergency incident involving Alaska Airlines Flight 1282. The incident occurred on January 5, 2024, when a door plug blowout forced the Boeing 737 MAX 9 to make an emergency landing shortly after taking off from Portland International Airport.

The Phenomenon of Terminal Velocity

The Wall Street Journal conducted an investigation into how these devices managed to withstand such a dramatic drop. Experiments involved dropping iPhone 14 and Samsung Galaxy S23 models from various heights onto grass and asphalt surfaces. The findings revealed that due to the phenomenon of terminal velocity, dropping phones from heights exceeding 300 feet yields the same result as dropping them from much greater altitudes like 16,000 feet. Terminal velocity is the highest velocity attainable by an object as it falls through air and is reached within 300 feet, explaining the phones' survival after the long fall.

Testing and Results

Further testing at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in New Jersey showed that both types of phones could endure falls onto grass from up to 300 feet without significant damage. However, when dropped onto asphalt, the iPhones sustained more severe damage compared to the Samsung phones, especially from higher altitudes. This experiment underscored the effectiveness of phone cases in providing additional protection, as demonstrated by the lesser damage to cased phones.

Context and Consequences of the Flight Incident

The Alaska Airlines flight's emergency was a significant event, adding to ongoing concerns regarding the safety of the 737 MAX series. Following the door plug incident, the FAA took immediate action by grounding all Boeing 737 MAX 9 jets for inspections. This precautionary measure reflected broader safety concerns following other notable incidents within the aircraft family.

The episode led to extensive federal investigations and highlighted the need for stringent manufacturing and safety standards in aviation. Amid these serious aviation safety considerations, the survival of the iPhones adds a somewhat lighter anecdote to the narrative, demonstrating remarkable technological resilience in unexpected circumstances.