Passengers Sue Boeing and Alaska Airlines for $1 Billion Over Mid-Air Door Panel Blowout

Three passengers are filing a lawsuit against Boeing and Alaska Airlines, seeking $1 billion in damages after a door panel blew out mid-air during their flight. The announcement of the lawsuit was made on February 23. The passengers accuse Boeing and Alaska Airlines of negligence, claiming that they ignored warning signs that could have prevented the January 5 incident. The plane pilots were forced to make an emergency landing as a result of the incident, which put the lives of 174 passengers and six crew members at risk.

Claims for Preventable Incident

The release announcing the lawsuit stated, "This experience jeopardized the lives of the 174 passengers and six crew members that were on board." The lawsuit seeks substantial punitive damages for what the passengers believe was a preventable incident. Additionally, the suit aims to secure damages on behalf of other passengers who may have flown on the Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft, which were subsequently grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration following the incident.

Unrelated to Previous Lawsuit

The lawsuit differs from another class-action lawsuit filed in January immediately after the incident. Boeing 737 Max 9 planes operated by Alaska and United Airlines have now resumed regular service. However, both carriers are reevaluating the decision to place additional orders with Boeing for more Max aircraft, including the Max 10 model.

Continued Investigations

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board continue to investigate Boeing in connection with the January blowout incident. However, Boeing and Alaska Airlines have not responded immediately to a request for comment via email.