The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has informed passengers of the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max door plug incident, where a door-plug panel was lost mid-flight, that they may be considered victims of a criminal act.
AP news reports: In a communication from the FBI’s Seattle office, a victim specialist reached out stating, “I’m contacting you because we have identified you as a possible victim of a crime,” and informed them that the matter is under FBI investigation.
The incident in question occurred on January 5, as the aircraft was flying over Oregon at an altitude of 16,000 feet (4,800 meters). The detachment of the panel led to a significant opening in the aircraft’s side, triggering the deployment of oxygen masks due to rapid cabin pressure loss and causing a forceful suction effect inside the plane.
Despite these alarming circumstances, the pilots managed to safely land the plane in Portland, Oregon. All 171 passengers and six crew members aboard emerged without serious injuries.
Mid-Flight Crisis: Panel Loss Led to Emergency Procedures Over Oregon
Subsequent investigations revealed that four bolts, essential for securing the panel, were missing. These bolts were unaccounted for following maintenance work at a Boeing factory located in Renton, Washington.
This event has drawn attention to a broader context involving the U.S. Justice Department’s criminal investigation into whether this incident breaches a 2021 agreement that allowed Boeing to evade prosecution. This prior agreement was related to accusations against Boeing for misleading the certification process of the 737 Max, following two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, resulting in 346 deaths.
Reevaluation of Crime Victim Definition in Wake of Aviation Incident
The Alaska Airlines incident has led to legal action from some passengers, represented by attorney Mark Lindquist, who is pursuing a lawsuit against Boeing. The FBI’s notification to the passengers included contact details for further communication and information sharing related to the ongoing investigation.
This development marks a significant shift by the Justice Department, contrasting with its previous stance where it argued that families of the victims in the 737 Max crashes did not qualify as crime victims under the legal definition.