Skywest CRJ2 at Denver on Dec 29th 2024 cabin did not pressurize

The incident began during the departure phase as Skywest 5024 was climbing through 7,700 feet. The flight crew interrupted their climb instructions to report a cabin altitude issue. In pressurized aircraft, if the pressurization system fails, the "cabin altitude" (the atmospheric pressure maintained inside the hull) begins to rise toward the actual altitude of the aircraft. This necessitates an immediate descent to 10,000 feet or lower, where the ambient air is dense enough for humans to breathe without supplemental oxygen.

The recording captures a professional and methodical exchange between the pilots and Denver Departure. The pilots prioritized aircraft control and configuration, requesting specific headings and altitudes while they worked through their emergency checklists. There is a brief moment of coordination regarding the arrival runway; the pilots initially requested Runway 16 Left, but the controller informed them it was closed, necessitating a switch to Runway 16 Right.

Technically, the CRJ200 uses bleed air from the engines to maintain cabin pressure. A failure can result from a pack malfunction, a seal leak, or an outflow valve issue. Because the crew caught the issue early and requested a descent before reaching high altitudes, the situation remained a controlled emergency rather than a high-stress rapid decompression event.

The controller demonstrated high competence by proactively offering the ILS (Instrument Landing System) for the available runway and providing "delaying" vectors (keeping the aircraft in a specific area) while the crew completed their checklists. This allowed the pilots to focus on the mechanical issue without the immediate pressure of navigating a complex approach. The flight landed without further incident, following the standard procedure of providing "souls on board" and "fuel remaining" to emergency services.