Incident Overview
On February 13, 2024, at 23:18 UTC, a Boeing 737-8BK aircraft registered as LV-FRQ experienced a loss of cabin pressure during the initial climb phase of a scheduled commercial flight. The aircraft was operated by Aerolíneas Argentinas and was flying from Aeropuerto Internacional Luis Candelaria in Bariloche to Aeropuerto Internacional Ministro Pistarini in Buenos Aires.
Emergency Declaration and Diversion
Upon detecting the cabin pressure loss, the flight crew declared an emergency and diverted the aircraft to Neuquén Airport, where it landed without further incident.
Injuries and Damage
According to the preliminary report, one passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight carried 6 crew members and 170 passengers, totaling 176 persons on board. No other injuries were reported. The aircraft itself suffered no visible damage.
Investigation
The Junta de Seguridad en el Transporte (JST) has initiated an investigation into the incident. The event is categorized under system/component failure or malfunction (non-powerplant). No probable cause has been stated in the preliminary findings.