Passengers aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, a Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft that experienced a harrowing midair blowout in January, have recently received letters from the FBI, indicating that they may be victims of a crime. Attorney Mark Lindquist, representing multiple passengers on the flight, shared the letter with CNN, revealing that the FBI’s Seattle office sent it to passengers on Tuesday. The letter states that the FBI is currently investigating the incident.
Lindquist expressed his support for the Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation, emphasizing the need for accountability, answers, and safer Boeing planes. Attorney Robert Clifford, who represents family members of victims from a Boeing 737 Max jet operated by Ethiopian Air, also confirmed that some of his clients on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 received the letter, suggesting that all passengers on the plane may have been considered crime victims. Clifford further argued that the families of Ethiopian Air victims should have been acknowledged as crime victims as well.
In addition to the letters sent to passengers, flight attendants from Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 have been interviewed by investigators from the Justice Department. The FBI’s Seattle office neither confirmed nor denied the existence of an investigation, adhering to the Department of Justice’s policy. However, the DOJ had previously initiated a probe into the incident and Boeing in February, which could potentially disrupt a deferred prosecution agreement reached between Boeing and the Justice Department during the final month of the Trump administration.
The settlement, criticized by crash victims’ families and members of Congress, resolved charges against Boeing for its alleged fraudulent actions related to the 737 Max jets. Under the agreement, Boeing agreed to pay $2.5 billion, primarily consisting of funds already committed to the airlines that had purchased the Max jets following the previous crashes. The deferred prosecution agreement aimed to eliminate the threat of criminal liability for Boeing regarding the earlier fraud charges. However, the recent Alaska Airlines incident occurred just days before the conclusion of a three-year probation-like period, potentially exposing Boeing to charges not only for the Alaska Air incident but also for the previous allegations of criminal wrongdoing.
Boeing declined to comment on the matter. On January 5, Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, carrying 171 passengers and six crew members, departed from Portland, Oregon, en route to Ontario, California. Shortly after takeoff, a fuselage panel known as the “door plug” blew off, forcing the pilots to make an emergency landing. While the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has yet to assign blame for the missing bolts that caused the incident, records are available indicating who worked on the door plug during the plane’s assembly at Boeing’s factory.
Following a six-week audit triggered by the door plug blowout, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) found issues with the production practices of both Boeing and its major supplier, Spirit AeroSystems. Subpoenas from the Justice Department were recently issued, seeking documents and information related to Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems, specifically mentioning the “door plug” used in the Boeing 737 Max 9s.
1 Response
This is absolutely outrageous! It’s bad enough that these passengers had to endure a terrifying midair blowout on an Alaska Airlines flight, but now they’re being told they may be victims of a crime? How could this even happen? The fact that the FBI is involved only adds to the seriousness of the situation.
It’s clear that there are some serious issues with the Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft, and it’s infuriating that innocent passengers have to suffer the consequences. The safety of passengers