FBI Alerts Passengers of Potential Crime Involvement Following Alaska Airlines In-Flight Emergency
In a recent communication, the FBI has notified passengers of an Alaska Airlines flight that experienced a dramatic mid-flight incident in January, suggesting they might have been involved in a criminal act. The legal representative for several affected travelers, Mark Lindquist, disclosed the FBI’s correspondence originating from their Seattle office, which was distributed to the passengers of flight 1282 on Tuesday.
The letter explicitly stated the recipients are being considered as potential crime victims, highlighting the ongoing investigative efforts by the FBI. Despite this, the FBI’s Seattle Public Affairs Office maintained its stance of neither acknowledging nor denying any ongoing investigations, adhering to the Department of Justice’s guidelines.
Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, has chosen not to comment on the matter.
The incident occurred on January 5, when 171 passengers along with six crew members embarked on a flight from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, California. Shortly after takeoff, a significant part of the aircraft’s body, known as the “door plug,” detached, prompting an urgent return to the airport.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has since initiated an inquiry into both the incident and Boeing’s practices, as reported by CNN earlier. Additional scrutiny comes from subpoenas issued for documents and information regarding Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, particularly focusing on the “door plug” component of the Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft, as per a Bloomberg report.
Lindquist, representing the passengers, expressed strong support for the DOJ’s investigation, seeking accountability, answers, and improved safety measures for Boeing aircraft.
Inquiries have been extended to other attorneys representing the passengers involved in this flight.
This news arrives concurrently with Boeing’s announcement of expected significant first-quarter financial losses, directly tied to the January incident involving the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9. The financial downturn is partly due to compensations owed to the carriers operating the Max 9, which faced a three-week grounding post-incident. Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci has previously estimated the financial impact on his airline to be around $150 million, anticipating reimbursements from Boeing.
Boeing’s Chief Financial Officer, Brian West, attributed the expected losses to various factors, including adjustments at their manufacturing facilities, which have led to decreased production rates at the Boeing 737 Max plant located in Renton, Washington.
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, yahoo.com