Part 8/10:
The descent was intense, around 5000 feet per minute, and the pilots made split-second decisions within the fraught environment. Their primary focus was to get to a breathable altitude below 10,000 feet, stabilizing the flight as best they could.
Emergency Landing: A Fortunate Conclusion
In the aftermath of the rapid descent, the crew managed to stabilize the aircraft long enough to touch down safely back in Portland. Against all odds, of the 177 souls aboard, only seven passengers and one flight attendant reported minor injuries, an outcome seen as extraordinary given the circumstances.