Lawsuits Filed After Alaska Airlines Jet Blowout
In January, an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 experienced a dramatic fuselage blowout that left a gaping hole in the aircraft. Recently, more passengers from that flight have filed lawsuits, including one individual who credits his seat belt with saving his life. The latest suit, representing seven passengers, was filed in Washington’s King County Superior Court against Boeing, Alaska Airlines, Spirit AeroSystems, and ten unidentified individuals.
Cuong Tran of Upland, California, sat directly behind where the aircraft’s side tore open, leaving a door-sized hole. According to attorney Timothy A. Loranger, who filed the lawsuit, Tran was nearly sucked out of the plane as air rushed through the opening. The powerful suction even ripped Tran’s shoes and socks off, causing him to injure his foot against the seat in front of him.
Negligence and Trauma
Loranger emphasized the trauma experienced by Tran and other passengers, blaming the incident on the failure of Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems, and Alaska Airlines to maintain the aircraft’s safety. The lawsuit seeks various damages for alleged negligence, product defects, and failure to protect passengers. Boeing, Alaska Airlines, and Spirit AeroSystems have either declined to comment or have not responded to inquiries about the lawsuit.
The flight from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, California, started uneventfully before the fuselage section covering an inoperative emergency exit blew out. Pilots managed to make an emergency landing back in Portland, and fortunately, no one was seriously injured. However, the incident has led to increased scrutiny of Boeing’s safety practices and ongoing investigations.
Investigations and Previous Lawsuits
The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report revealed that four bolts meant to secure the door plug were missing after panel repairs last September. These repairs were conducted by contractors for Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems. Another lawsuit, filed last month on behalf of 22 passengers, also accuses Boeing and Alaska Airlines of negligence.
The Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation to determine if Boeing complied with a previous settlement regarding the safety of its 737 Max aircraft. This probe is part of a broader review following two fatal crashes involving 737 Max planes in 2018 and 2019.