Key Takeaways
• August 20, 2023: Alaska Airlines flight 1288 landing gear collapsed at John Wayne Airport with no injuries.
• NTSB report on May 27, 2025, identified excessive grinding in 2018 as cause of landing gear failure.
• Sunvair updated maintenance; Alaska Airlines increased safety audits and oversight after investigation findings.
On August 20, 2023, Alaska Airlines flight 1288, a Boeing 737-800, experienced a sudden and frightening landing gear collapse at John Wayne/Orange County Airport. The left main landing gear gave way as the plane touched down, sending the aircraft skidding across the runway. Passengers screamed as sparks flew from the left wing scraping the pavement. Thankfully, all 106 passengers and six crew members escaped without injury. The incident, however, raised urgent questions about airline safety, maintenance practices, and oversight.
On May 27, 2025, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its final report, revealing the root cause of the Alaska Airlines landing gear failure. The findings have sent ripples through the aviation industry, prompting changes in maintenance procedures and sparking a broader discussion about how airlines and their partners keep passengers safe.
What Happened on August 20, 2023?
Alaska Airlines flight 1288 was on a routine trip from Seattle to John Wayne/Orange County Airport. As the plane landed, the left main landing gear collapsed. The aircraft’s left wing and engine cowling scraped along the runway, creating sparks and a terrifying scene for those on board. Despite the chaos, the crew managed a safe evacuation, and no one was hurt. The aircraft, however, suffered significant damage.
The incident was unusual because the landing itself was not especially hard. The NTSB report later confirmed that the vertical acceleration at touchdown was 1.71g, which is below the threshold that would normally be considered a hard landing for this type of aircraft. This detail pointed investigators toward a problem with the landing gear itself, rather than pilot error or rough handling.
The NTSB Investigation: How Did the Landing Gear Fail?
The National Transportation Safety Board quickly began a detailed investigation. Their focus was on the left main landing gear’s aft trunnion pin—a key part that helps the landing gear move and lock into place. The investigation found a fatigue crack in this pin. A fatigue crack is a small break in metal that grows over time, usually because of repeated stress or damage.
According to the NTSB’s final report, the crack started because of excessive grinding during a maintenance overhaul in July 2018. The work was done by Sunvair, a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) company in Valencia, California. During the overhaul, too much grinding was used on the trunnion pin, which caused heat damage to the metal. This heat made the metal weaker and more likely to crack over time.
The crack grew slowly over the next five years, as the aircraft completed more than 4,000 landing cycles. The NTSB estimated that the crack had been present for about 800 cycles before the pin finally failed during the 2023 landing. This finding was crucial—it showed that the problem was not sudden or caused by a single event, but rather the result of a hidden flaw that developed over years.
What Is a Trunnion Pin and Why Is It Important?
A trunnion pin is a metal rod that acts as a hinge for the landing gear. It allows the gear to move up and down and helps lock it in place during landing and takeoff. Because it carries a lot of weight and stress, it must be very strong and free from any damage. If a trunnion pin fails, the landing gear can collapse, as happened with Alaska Airlines flight 1288.
The NTSB’s investigation found that the excessive grinding during the 2018 maintenance not only removed too much material but also heated the metal to a point where it became weaker. This heat damage is especially dangerous because it is not always easy to see with the naked eye. Over time, the weakened area developed a crack, which grew larger with each landing until it finally broke.
Maintenance History and Oversight
The trunnion pin in question had been overhauled by Sunvair on July 5, 2018. After the maintenance, the aircraft went back into service and completed over 4,000 landings before the failure. The NTSB found that the crack likely started about 800 cycles before the incident, meaning it had been growing for some time.
This timeline highlights the importance of careful maintenance and thorough inspections. Even a small mistake during an overhaul can have serious consequences years later. The NTSB’s report made it clear that the root cause was not a design flaw or pilot error, but a maintenance error that went undetected for years.
Immediate Actions and Industry Response
Sunvair’s Response
After the NTSB shared its findings, Sunvair reviewed and updated its overhaul process for trunnion pins. The company added an extra inspection step to check for heat damage and fatigue cracks in future repairs. This change is meant to catch any similar problems before they can cause an incident.
Alaska Airlines’ Actions
Alaska Airlines responded by strengthening its own safety protocols. The airline increased internal audits, expanded quality control, and added more oversight to maintenance procedures, especially for high-risk parts like landing gear. Alaska Airlines also emphasized its commitment to passenger safety in public statements, reassuring travelers that it was taking the incident very seriously.
Industry-Wide Implications
The NTSB’s report has prompted airlines and maintenance companies across the industry to review their own procedures. The report stressed that even minor heat exposure from grinding can lead to cracks and failures in landing gear components. As a result, many companies are now looking at their overhaul and inspection protocols to make sure they are catching any signs of heat damage or fatigue.
Regulatory and Policy Changes
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other regulators are paying close attention to the findings. The NTSB’s report may lead to new guidance or rules for maintenance companies, especially regarding how they handle grinding and heat exposure during overhauls. The FAA could require more detailed inspections or new testing methods to detect hidden cracks in critical parts like trunnion pins.
For more information about the NTSB’s work and official accident reports, readers can visit the NTSB’s official website.
The Human Side: Passengers and Crew
While no one was hurt in the Alaska Airlines landing gear collapse, the experience was terrifying for those on board. Passengers described seeing sparks and feeling the plane skid across the runway. The crew acted quickly to evacuate everyone safely, which likely prevented injuries.
Incidents like this remind us that airline safety is not just about machines and procedures—it’s about people’s lives. The quick response by the crew and the safe evacuation are testaments to the importance of training and preparedness.
Alaska Airlines’ Safety Record
Alaska Airlines has long been considered one of the world’s safest airlines. Even with this incident and a separate door plug issue in 2024, the airline’s overall safety culture and response to problems have kept its reputation strong. Alaska Airlines has shown a willingness to learn from incidents and make changes to improve safety, which is a key reason for its continued high ranking.
Broader Industry Impact: Lessons Learned
The Alaska Airlines landing gear collapse is a rare event, but it highlights several important lessons for the aviation industry:
- Maintenance Matters: Even small errors during maintenance can have serious, long-term effects. Proper training, oversight, and inspection are essential.
- Hidden Flaws: Some problems, like heat damage from grinding, are not easy to see. Advanced inspection techniques may be needed to catch these issues before they cause failures.
- Continuous Improvement: Airlines and maintenance companies must constantly review and improve their procedures to keep up with new risks and technologies.
- Regulatory Oversight: Agencies like the FAA play a crucial role in setting standards and ensuring that airlines and maintenance providers follow best practices.
What’s Next? Future Outlook
Enhanced Inspections
The NTSB’s findings are likely to lead to broader use of advanced inspection methods for landing gear and other critical parts. Techniques like Barkhausen noise inspection and metallographic analysis can help detect heat damage and cracks that are not visible to the naked eye.
Regulatory Action
The FAA and other authorities may issue new rules or guidance for maintenance companies. These could include stricter limits on grinding, better training for technicians, and more detailed inspection requirements for overhauled parts.
Ongoing Reforms at Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines continues to audit and improve its maintenance and safety protocols. The airline has planned visits to Boeing and is working closely with suppliers to make sure all parts and procedures meet the highest standards. These efforts are part of a broader push to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Step-by-Step Timeline of Events
To help readers understand how the incident unfolded, here’s a summary of key dates and actions:
- July 5, 2018: Sunvair overhauls the left main landing gear’s aft trunnion pin, using excessive grinding.
- 2018–2023: The aircraft completes over 4,000 landings. A fatigue crack develops and grows in the pin.
- August 20, 2023: Alaska Airlines flight 1288 lands at John Wayne/Orange County Airport. The left main landing gear collapses, and the aircraft skids on the runway. All passengers and crew escape unharmed.
- Post-Incident: The NTSB investigates, focusing on the fractured pin and maintenance records.
- May 27, 2025: The NTSB releases its final report, blaming improper maintenance (excessive grinding and heat damage) for the failure.
- Aftermath: Sunvair updates its overhaul procedures. Alaska Airlines strengthens its safety protocols and maintenance oversight.
Key Stakeholders and Their Roles
- National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB): Led the investigation and published the final report, identifying maintenance error as the root cause.
- Sunvair: The maintenance company responsible for the 2018 overhaul. Sunvair has revised its procedures to prevent similar problems.
- Alaska Airlines: The airline operating the flight. Alaska Airlines has increased audits and oversight of maintenance, both internally and with third-party providers.
- Passengers and Crew: All escaped without injury, but many described the event as terrifying.
Analysis from VisaVerge.com
VisaVerge.com reports that the Alaska Airlines landing gear incident has become a case study in the importance of strict maintenance standards and oversight. The site notes that while such incidents are rare, they can have far-reaching effects on airline operations, passenger trust, and industry regulations.
Summary Table: Key Facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Incident Date | August 20, 2023 |
| Aircraft | Boeing 737-800, Alaska Airlines flight 1288 |
| Cause | Fatigue crack in left main landing gear aft trunnion pin |
| Root Cause | Excessive grinding/heat damage during 2018 maintenance |
| Passengers/Crew | 106 passengers, 6 crew (no injuries) |
| NTSB Final Report | Released May 27, 2025 |
| Maintenance Provider | Sunvair (Valencia, CA) |
| Policy Changes | Enhanced inspections, revised overhaul procedures |
| Alaska Airlines Actions | Strengthened audits, safety protocols, oversight |
| Future Outlook | Industry-wide review of MRO practices and regulatory updates |
Practical Takeaways for Travelers and Industry Professionals
- For Passengers: Incidents like this are rare, and airlines like Alaska Airlines have strong safety records. If you have concerns, ask airlines about their maintenance and safety practices.
- For Airline Employees: Follow maintenance procedures carefully, and report any concerns about repairs or inspections.
- For Maintenance Providers: Review and update overhaul procedures, especially for critical parts like landing gear. Use advanced inspection methods to catch hidden damage.
- For Regulators: Consider updating rules and guidance to address new risks identified by incidents like this one.
Where to Find More Information
For official reports and safety recommendations, visit the National Transportation Safety Board’s website. Alaska Airlines also provides updates and safety information on its news page. The Federal Aviation Administration offers regulatory information and safety advisories for airlines and maintenance providers.
Conclusion
The Alaska Airlines landing gear collapse at John Wayne/Orange County Airport was a frightening event for those on board, but it ended without injury thanks to the crew’s quick actions. The NTSB’s investigation revealed that a hidden maintenance error—excessive grinding and heat damage to a trunnion pin—was the root cause. The incident has led to changes in maintenance procedures, increased oversight, and a renewed focus on safety across the airline industry. While rare, such events remind us that every detail matters when it comes to keeping passengers safe in the air.
Learn Today
Landing Gear → The wheels and associated structure on an aircraft used for takeoff, landing, and taxiing.
Trunnion Pin → A metal rod acting as a hinge that allows landing gear movement and locking during flight.
Fatigue Crack → A small metal fracture that develops slowly due to repeated stress or damage over time.
MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) → Companies specializing in aircraft maintenance, repair, and component overhauls.
NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) → Independent U.S. agency that investigates transportation accidents and issues safety recommendations.
This Article in a Nutshell
Alaska Airlines Flight 1288’s landing gear collapsed on August 20, 2023, at John Wayne Airport. NTSB found 2018 maintenance errors caused a fatigue crack. No injuries occurred. Industry reforms followed, highlighting the vital role of careful inspections and maintenance to prevent hidden mechanical failures in aviation safety.
— By VisaVerge.com
