Alaska Airlines Flight Incident Under FBI Investigation
Passengers on an Alaska Airlines flight that experienced a panel blowout midair may have been victims of a crime, according to a letter from the FBI obtained by CBS News.
The FBI's Seattle Division sent a two-page letter to the 174 passengers and potentially six crew members of Flight No. 1282, which was en route from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, California on Jan. 5. The aircraft had to make an emergency landing at Portland airport after a door plug blew off during the flight.
"We have identified you as a possible victim of a crime," the FBI's 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 provide details on its progress at this time."
The FBI mentioned that there are a "large number of potential victims in this case" and outlined how the affected individuals could access information related to the investigation. The letter also cautioned that criminal investigations "can be a lengthy undertaking."
The incident occurred as the plane ascended to around 16,000 feet, causing a panel to detach, according to a lawsuit filed against Alaska Airlines, Boeing, and Spirit Aerosystems, the manufacturer of the door plug. The lawsuit alleges that the event resulted in physical injuries and "serious emotional distress, fear, and anxiety" for the passenger and six others. The passenger credited his seatbelt for preventing him from being pulled out through the opening.
Following the incident, three passengers on the Alaska Airlines flight filed a $1 billion lawsuit against the airline and Boeing, citing negligence as the cause. While several individuals sustained minor injuries, there were no reports of serious harm.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a temporary grounding of specific Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft and mandated safety inspections for all operational planes worldwide. According to the National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary report, four bolts intended to secure the door plug were found to be missing.
The U.S. Department of Justice is currently conducting an investigation into the incident, as confirmed by a source familiar with the matter. The connection between this investigation and the letter sent by the FBI Seattle office remains unclear.
