American Airlines Launches First US Airbus A321XLR with New Route

On December 26, 2024, an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 encountered severe turbulence en route from Seattle to Phoenix, leading to a medical emergency for several crew members and a passenger. The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. MST, prompting the crew to declare an emergency and land safely by 3:10 p.m. No passengers required hospitalization, but some crew members were taken to local hospitals for evaluations. The FAA has launched an investigation into the cause of the turbulence, amidst rising turbulence incidents in the aviation industry that highlight the need for enhanced safety measures.