AVIATION/ NTSB UPDATES ON ALASKA FL73

The NTSB has released a preliminary report on an incident involving an ALASKA AIRLINES Boeing 737 on December 20, 2008. On that date, Alaska Flight 73 was on Domestic Service from Sitka to Juneau, Alaska, with 83 passengers and crew onboard. The crew declared an emergency while on approach to Juneau, reporting a number of medical emergencies. According to the crew, 3 passengers and 1 crew member had fallen ill, and were being treated by a doctor onboard. The doctor suspected carbon monoxide poisioning. Upon arrival in Juneau, all 4 were transported to a local hospital for treatment. The NTSB preliminary report details events from the night before the incident, when the aircraft was parked it Sitka. The 737 was connected to external heating unit, which officials believe is responsible for the carbon monoxide leak into the passenger cabin. It should be noted that prior to the heating unit being disconnected, the flight crew noted fumes in the passenger cabin. Symptoms were first reported shortly after departure, and shortly thereafter, the flight crew donned their O2 masks for the remainder of the flight. Those transported to hospital tested positive for carbon monoxide. The full preliminary report, which takes a step by step look at events as they unfolded, can be found on the NTSB website.