Alaska Airlines 787-9 Returns to Rome After Emergency on Seattle Flight, Holding to Shed Weight
Updated
Updated · aviationtoday.in · Jul 20
Alaska Airlines 787-9 Returns to Rome After Emergency on Seattle Flight, Holding to Shed Weight
2 articles · Updated · aviationtoday.in · Jul 20
Summary
Flight AS181, a Boeing 787-9 operating Alaska Airlines’ Rome-to-Seattle service, returned safely to Rome Fiumicino on July 19 after the crew declared an emergency while cruising over Europe.
The aircraft turned back before crossing the Atlantic, then held over the Mediterranean to reduce landing weight before landing with emergency services standing by; no injuries were immediately reported.
Alaska Airlines had not disclosed the cause or issued a technical explanation at publication, and the jet was expected to undergo engineering inspections before returning to service.
The affected aircraft, N780HA, flies Alaska’s first scheduled nonstop Seattle-Rome route, launched in April 2026 as part of the carrier’s Europe expansion using former Hawaiian widebody aircraft.