Flight Attendants Sue Boeing Over 737-9 Max Panel Blowout Incident
Four Alaska Airlines flight attendants have filed separate lawsuits against Boeing over the mid-air panel blowout incident involving a 737-9 MAX aircraft in January. The lawsuits, submitted in Seattle’s King County Superior Court on July 29, allege negligence and failure to ensure safety in the design, manufacture, and repair of the aircraft.
The plaintiffs are seeking compensation for physical and psychological injuries, emotional distress, and both past and future economic damages.
“Each of the four flight attendants acted courageously, following their training and putting passengers’ safety first while fearing for their lives,” said attorney Tracy Brammeier, who represents the plaintiffs. “They deserve to be wholly compensated for this life-altering traumatic experience.”
The lawsuits claim that Boeing knew or should have known about the quality control problems plaguing the 737 MAX production line. The January incident led to a major crisis for Boeing, prompting a criminal investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, which concluded the company had violated a 2021 deferred prosecution agreement related to earlier 737 MAX crashes.
In a June report, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) criticized Boeing’s safety practices and confirmed that four bolts had not been installed on the aircraft panel that detached during the flight. The board also pointed to insufficient training and oversight at Boeing, as well as ineffective monitoring by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Boeing declined to comment on the lawsuits, and Alaska Airlines has yet to respond to media inquiries.
The case adds to the growing legal and regulatory scrutiny surrounding Boeing’s troubled 737 MAX program.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, yahoo.com