A Flair Airlines Boeing 737 MAX-8, registered as C-FEEL, was forced to divert from its original flight path when the aircraft suffered from a cabin pressurization issue over the Gulf of Mexico.
According to flightradar24.com data, the narrow-body jet was operating flight F82615 on February 7, 2023, from Cancun International Airport (CUN), Mexico, to Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). The aircraft climbed to 37,000 feet and shortly thereafter began its descent to 10,000 feet. It then descended further, to only 7,700 feet, as it started diverting to Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Florida, United States (US).
The Boeing 737 MAX is currently still at the airport and has been since the landing on February 7, 2023.
According to the Aviation Herald, the aircraft experienced a cabin pressurization issue, resulting in the crew making a descent to a lower altitude. Oxygen masks were also deployed onboard the 737 MAX.
“The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew is our highest priority. F82615 diverted to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, when the aircraft experienced a depressurization. The crew responded ably, and the flight landed without further incident. Passengers were provided with accommodations and food, and continued on other flights by Flair for their return to Toronto,” said Mike Arnot, a spokesman for Flair Airlines, in a statement to AeroTime.
Flair Airlines received the aircraft in June 2021. It first flew in October 2019, when the type was still grounded following the two fatal crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia in March 2019. However, neither of the crashes were due to pressurization issues.
UPDATE February 10, 2023, 15:30 PM (UTC +3): The article was updated with a statement from Flair Airlines.