Many iPhone owners have experienced the heartbreak of a cracked screen or shattered back, even after simple drops from pocket height. Despite Apple’s claims of “solid durability,” these premium phones can suffer surprising damage from seemingly minor falls. However, not all iPhones meet the same unfortunate fate. One such exception is an iPhone that took a tumble even more dramatic than a pocket drop: it plummeted at 16,000 feet from a flight, when the plane’s window shattered mid-air.
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The incident occurred when Alaska Airlines ASA 1282 flight, en route from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, California, experienced a terrifying mid-air window-shattering incident. The accident resulted in the ejection of various objects mid-air, including an iPhone. Seanathan Bates, walking down Barnes Road, found the iPhone, discovering the device with its cover and screen protector still in perfect condition.
Expressing his astonishment, Bates took to X (formerly Twitter) to share photos of the miraculously intact iPhone. In his post, Bates revealed that he “Found an iPhone on the side of the roadâ€æ Still in aeroplane mode with half a battery and open to a baggage claim for #AlaskaAirlines ASA1282. Survived a 16,000-foot drop perfectly intact! When I called it in, Zoe at @NTSB said it was the SECOND phone to be found. No door yet.”
While the model of the iPhone has not been officially revealed, based on the photos shared by Bates, it appears to be either an iPhone 14 Pro or an iPhone 15 model, considering it features a dynamic island notch. The photo also reveals that when found, the phone was in-flight mode, activated along with the SOS mode. Surprisingly, the phone was found completely unaffected by the free fall to the ground from the aircraft.
The connection of the phone to the Alaska aeroplane was confirmed through an email on the iPhone, displaying a mail with the subject ‘Alaska Airlines Baggage Receipt.
Meanwhile, US’s National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) also officially confirmed the incident, adding a twist of intrigue by revealing that they had discovered another iPhone that remained in working condition after its dramatic plunge.
While the mid-air incident understandably scared many passengers, the iPhone’s survival has sparked online discussion. Some netizens are crediting Apple’s build quality, while others are hailing the protective case for safeguarding the phone despite its dramatic fall from the aeroplane. Interestingly, this isn’t an isolated event. There have been numerous cases where iPhones have defied expectations and showed strong resilience in a challenging environment. .
One notable incident occurred last year in Madison, Wisconsin, USA, when a scuba club engaged in environmental cleanup efforts stumbled upon an iPhone submerged underwater for almost a year. Typically, the club encounters non-functional mobile phones during their underwater activities. However, this iPhone defied expectations. Not only did it survive its watery ordeal, but upon being charged, its screen turned on, revealing a surprisingly functional device.
Later, local authorities, using the phone’s data, identified Ellie Eisenberg as the owner. A graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Eisenberg recalled accidentally dropping her iPhone into the water while boating with friends in the summer of 2022.
