An iPhone was found undamaged after falling from an Alaska Airlines flight at 16,000 feet. The phone, in airplane mode with about 50% battery, had a hard protective case. The flight’s door plug blowing out resulted in the loss of a section of the fuselage, leading to the grounding of 171 Boeing 737 Max 9 planes.

iphone found undamaged after 16000 foot fall
Boeing Co. 737 Max 9 jet

In the alarming account of the blown-off fuselage panel causing sudden decompression on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, a surprising detail emerged, seemingly challenging the laws of physics: a mobile phone continued to function after a 16,000-foot fall from the cabin of a Boeing Co. 737 Max 9 jet. In response to this incident, people are commending the resilience of iPhones, asserting that the durability of the iPhone surpasses that of Boeing Max 9 planes.

A user named Seanathan Bates, posting on the platform X, reported discovering a fully operational, unlocked Apple Inc. iPhone of the latest generation intact on a roadside in Portland, Oregon. Bates shared pictures showing the phone still had plenty of battery life left, and the screen had an email from Alaska Airlines about a baggage claim for the flight.

iPhone found undamaged, posted by X user

An X user posted

What does NTSB say about this?

During a briefing, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) subsequently verified finding one phone on a road and another in a yard, both turned in by individuals who discovered them. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy explained that examining these devices could aid in confirming whether the investigation is targeting the correct area. Unfortunately, attempts to contact Bates, the individual who found the iPhone, for a comment were unsuccessful. Additionally, the NTSB did not offer an immediate response.

Watch an X user’s horrifying video from the incident.

Apple acknowledges on its website that iPhones or their batteries may sustain damage if dropped. However, in this instance, as per Bates’s post, the only visible damage was to the charger cord. Surprisingly, even the screen remained intact. Despite the cord being broken, with only the end still connected to the phone, the iPhone was found undamaged.