Alaska Airlines 737 diverts to Fresno after emergency descent

An Alaska Airlines flight bound for Seattle made an emergency diversion to Fresno, California, on Sunday evening after a rapid descent from cruising altitude. Flight AS671 departed John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana at approximately 9:00 PM PDT. Shortly after reaching 40,000 feet, the crew initiated a sharp descent, dropping 30,000 feet to 10,000 feet within minutes. Such a maneuver is consistent with cabin pressurization problems or urgent mechanical issues.

The pilots declared an emergency with air traffic control and were directed to Fresno Yosemite International Airport. The aircraft landed safely on Runway 29L about an hour after takeoff. Maintenance teams are evaluating the 26-year-old Boeing 737-700 to determine the cause of the technical failure before it can return to service.