'Best advertising for iPhone': Internet amazed as Apple phone survives 16,000-ft fall from damaged plane

PORTLAND, OREGON: When Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 blew open at 16,000 feet on Friday, January 5, panicked passengers reached for their oxygen masks wondering if they would make it back to the ground alive.

Miraculously, the experienced pilot was able steer the Boeing 737 to a dramatic but safe emergency landing in Portland 15 harrowing minutes later. In additional twists that have now captivated the public's imagination, two iPhones have since turned up undamaged after likely falling out of the damaged plane, as per PEOPLE Magazine.

Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 made emergency landing after fuselage incident mid-air

Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 departed Portland for a routine flight to Ontario, California. But shortly after takeoff, pandemonium erupted aboard the Boeing 737 Max 9. A loud bang rang out as a gaping hole opened in the fuselage, causing rapid depressurization of the cabin.

Terrified passengers scrambled to don their oxygen masks in the frigid air and loose items were sucked outside. The pilots quickly realized the severity of the situation and made the decision to turn the plane around for an emergency landing back in Portland.

Remarkably, despite the plane missing a large chunk of its exterior paneling, exposing the interior of the aircraft, the pilots were able to safely guide it back down. No injuries were reported among the over 160 individuals aboard.

Once on the ground, shaken passengers observed just how close disaster had come when taking photos of the extent of the damage. Alaska Airlines has since temporarily grounded planes of similar make to inspect them while crash investigators piece together what happened.

Portland man discovers iPhone fallen 16,000 feet from ill-fated Alaska Airlines flight

The day after the harrowing Alaska flight incident, Portland resident Sean Bates was out for a walk when he spotted an iPhone sitting undamaged on the side of Barnes Road near the airport.

Bates realized the phone could be from the troubled Flight 1282 after hearing that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) requested locals report any items potentially fallen from the plane.

Bates recounted that he found it "perfectly intact" while still in airplane mode with a half-charged battery and open to a baggage claim screen for Alaska Airlines Flight 1282. Intrigued, Bates contacted the NTSB who confirmed it was the second phone from the flight discovered in the area.

An NTSB spokesperson called it “very rare” for any objects to exit a plane's cabin at such extreme altitudes without being damaged beyond recognition. In addition to the two phones, other objects from Flight 1282 have remarkably turned up across the Portland region. This includes a critical missing door plug needed for the investigation found intact in a resident's backyard 16 miles from the airport.

Internet marvels at iPhone's durability after 16,000 feet fall from Alaska Airlines flight

When Bates shared news of discovering the intact iPhone on social media, it immediately went viral with commenters focused on how the Apple device somehow survived plummeting thousands of feet down to Earth at extremely high speeds.

One Facebook commenter humorously anticipated Apple's marketing move, quipping, "You know Apple is gonna make an ad about this." Meanwhile, another user raised an interesting inquiry, pondering, "One question: what phone case was on this phone?"

Expressing admiration for the phone's resilience, a different user suggested, "The phone protector company should get accolades!!" Echoing the sentiment, someone else eagerly inquired, "What kind of case did they have on?"

Amidst the astonishment, a user playfully mused, "Best advertising for iPhone. Can withstand a 16,000 ft fall." And encapsulating the collective awe, another user simply exclaimed, "Wow!"

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.