Portland, Oregon – Three passengers from Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 have filed a $1 billion lawsuit against the airline and Boeing after an incident on a Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet in January.
The passengers, Kyle Rinker, Amanda Strickland, and Kevin Kwok, experienced a terrifying mid-flight ordeal when a door plug blew out, causing chaos in the cabin. Their attorney, Jonathan Johnson, highlighted the systemic problems at Boeing that put the lives of passengers at risk.
Rinker described the moment of the incident, saying there was a loud pop followed by the sudden rush of cold air as oxygen masks dropped down. The experience left them traumatized, with Rinker mentioning they have been hesitant to fly again since the incident.
The missing bolts that held the door plug in place on the Boeing 737 MAX 9 were a key factor in the mid-air blowout. The lawsuit alleges that passengers on a prior flight of the aircraft had reported hearing a whistling sound near the door plug, which was apparently not addressed adequately.
The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report revealed that pilots and crew were not informed of the design feature of the cockpit door to blow out in a depressurization situation. This lack of communication led to confusion and stress among passengers and crew during the incident.
In response to the incident, the FAA grounded the Max 9 fleet for further investigation, emphasizing the need for Boeing to address systemic quality-control issues. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker met with Boeing officials to discuss the necessary improvements to ensure passenger safety.
The lawsuit includes allegations of emotional and physical injuries, such as severe stress, anxiety, trauma, and hearing damage. More passengers have been added to the lawsuit to seek accountability from Boeing and Alaska Airlines for the traumatic experience.
Johnson, the attorney representing the passengers, has been contacted for further comments, while Boeing and Alaska Airlines have chosen not to provide any statements regarding the incident.