Last week, passengers on Alaska Airlines Flight No. 1282, that had an emergency landing in Portland in January, received letters from the FBI indicating they could be a possible “victim of a crime.”
“We have identified you as a possible victim of a crime,” the letter stated. “This case is currently under investigation by the FBI. A criminal investigation can be a lengthy undertaking, and, for several reasons, we cannot tell you about its progress at this time. A victim of a federal crime is entitled to receive certain services.”
On Jan. 5, a panel blew off the Boeing 737 MAX 9 twinjet at 16,000 feet, forcing an emergency landing at Portland International Airport (PDX). Everyone onboard survived.
A group of passengers sued Boeing and Alaska Airlines, alleging negligence.
“This is highly unusual for the Department of Justice to be investigating an aviation incident where nobody died, but this is the result of cumulative errors and negligence by Boeing,” said attorney Mark Lindquist, who represents 27 passengers who were on board.
“Engineers and technicians told them that the plane should be taken out of service, but they kept it in service, passengers were on that plane, and that was a dangerous decision,” he said.
Among the allegations, include a claim that passengers heard “a whistling sound coming from the vicinity of the door plug on a previous flight of the subject plane,” according to Lindquist’s firm.
“Passengers apparently noticed the whistling sound and brought it to the attention of flight attendants who reportedly informed the pilot or first officer.”
But “no known further action was taken” after the cockpit’s instruments “purportedly read normal,” the attorney said.
Cuong Tran, of Upland, California, was sitting in row 27, just behind where the side of the aircraft tore away and left a door-sized hole. His attorney, Timothy A. Loranger filed a lawsuit, indicating air rushed out of the hole, pulling on Tran and others nearby.
The suction tore Tran’s shoes and socks from his feet and he felt his body lift off his seat, the news release said, adding that Tran’s foot was hurt when it was jerked into the seat structure in front of him.
“Our clients — and likely every passenger on that flight — suffered unnecessary trauma due to the failure of Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems, and Alaska Airlines to ensure that the aircraft was in a safe and airworthy condition,” Loranger said.
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That is a nightmare. You couldn’t pay me to get on a flight now-unless it wasn’t leaving the ground. 🙂
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Unspeakable negligence. They were told and they ignored it???
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I’m wondering if this helps the airline with the lawsuits?
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