Passengers File $1 Billion Lawsuit Against Alaska Airlines and Boeing Over Mid-Flight Door Plug Blowout
In a shocking turn of events, three passengers who were on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 in January have filed a $1 billion lawsuit against the airline and Boeing. The incident occurred when a door plug blew out mid-flight on the Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet, causing panic and endangering the lives of those onboard. The passengers involved in the lawsuit are Kyle Rinker, his girlfriend Amanda Strickland, and Kevin Kwok.
The attorney representing the passengers, Jonathan Johnson, an aviation law specialist, stated in a press release that Rinker and Strickland were seated just two rows diagonally behind the teenager who had his shirt sucked off when the door plug flew off. This terrifying incident has left the passengers traumatized and seeking justice for the negligence they believe led to this dangerous situation.
“This is mostly about the systemic problems at Boeing, which is jeopardizing the lives of the entire traveling public who travel on Boeing aircraft,” Johnson told KGW-TV. “They should not be trusting luck to avoid a planeload of people being killed.”
According to Rinker, the incident occurred about five minutes into the flight when they heard a loud pop. The sudden rush of wind and cold air startled everyone onboard, and oxygen masks were deployed. Rinker described the experience as chilling, both literally and figuratively. Since then, the couple has been unable to board another plane due to the trauma they experienced.
The missing emergency door of Alaska Airlines N704AL, a 737 Max 9, which made an emergency landing at Portland International Airport on January 5 is covered and taped, in Portland, Oregon on January 23, 2024. Alaska Airlines will start resuming service (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)
This lawsuit is just one of many legal challenges that Alaska Airlines and Boeing have faced since the incident. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducted an investigation and found that four bolts that hold the door plug in place were missing at the time of the blowout. This raises serious concerns about the maintenance and safety protocols of both the airline and the aircraft manufacturer.
Mark Lindquist, a lawyer representing 22 other passengers onboard Flight 1282, revealed that their lawsuit against Boeing and Alaska has been expanded to include allegations that passengers on a prior flight of the same aircraft heard a whistling sound coming from the vicinity of the door plug. Despite bringing it to the attention of flight attendants, no further action was taken, and the pilot deemed the cockpit instruments to be normal.
The expanded lawsuit also cites the NTSB’s preliminary report, which states that the cockpit door was designed to blow out in a depressurization situation, but pilots and crew were not informed of this design feature. The lack of proper communication between the flight crew and passengers intensified confusion and stress during the incident.
The lawsuit includes claims of emotional and physical injuries, such as severe stress, anxiety, trauma, and hearing damage. More passengers have been added to the lawsuit, highlighting the widespread impact of this incident.
In response to the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded the Boeing 737 MAX 9 fleet for further investigation. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker met with Boeing officials and emphasized the need for “real and profound improvements” in the company’s systemic quality-control issues. Boeing must commit to making foundational changes to ensure passenger safety.
As this lawsuit unfolds, it is clear that both Alaska Airlines and Boeing will face significant scrutiny regarding their safety protocols and maintenance practices. Passengers who were onboard Flight 1282 are seeking justice for the traumatic experience they endured and hope to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other agency, organization, employer, or company.