2 months ago
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) sent passengers who had been connected an Alaska Airlines formation that had a doorway plug rustle retired mid-flight a missive saying they whitethorn beryllium a "possible unfortunate of a crime."
"As a Victim Specialist pinch nan Seattle Division, I'm contacting you because we person identified you arsenic a imaginable unfortunate of a crime," nan FBI agency successful Seattle said successful a missive to passengers connected Alaska Flight 1282. Attorney Mark Lindquist, who represents passengers connected nan flight, sent a transcript of nan March 19 missive to FOX Business.
The FBI said nan investigation is presently nether investigation and that, fixed nan "large number of imaginable victims successful this case," they will apt not person different announcement by mail.
BOEING EXEC OUT AFTER 737 MAX DOOR PLUG FAILURE
"A criminal investigation tin beryllium a lengthy undertaking, and for respective reasons, we cannot show you astir its advancement astatine this time," nan missive said. The FBI did pass passengers astir nan type of services they are entitled to arsenic portion of nan FBI's Victim Assistance Program.
Signage extracurricular nan Boeing Co. manufacturing installation successful Renton, Washington, connected Monday, February 5, 2024. (Photographer: David Ryder/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Lindquist told FOX Business that he welcomes nan Justice Department's investigation.
"We want answers, accountability, and safer Boeing planes. The DOJ brings a batch of leverage to our litigation," he said.
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The FBI and Boeing declined to comment. FOX Business reached retired to Alaska Airlines for comment.
Earlier this month, nan Department of Justice opened a criminal investigation into nan January incident erstwhile a doorway plug detached and near a gaping spread successful nan broadside of nan Boeing 737 Max 9 astatine 16,000 feet. The DOJ has already contacted immoderate passengers and unit members, group acquainted pinch nan matter told The Wall Street Journal.
It has besides interviewed pilots and formation attendants who had been connected board. Alaska Airlines told nan outlet that it was "fully cooperating" and does not judge nan bearer is simply a "target of nan investigation."
The NTSB' preliminary study reveals that missing bolts played a facet successful mid-flight crisis. (NTSB / Fox News)
Days later, a national audit of nan beleaguered airplane shaper revealed that location were complete 30 failures successful nan company's operations.
Boeing grounded 33 aspects of nan audit pinch a full of 97 points of noncompliance, according to nan New York Times. The institution passed 56 points of nan audit.
| BA | THE BOEING CO. | 187.70 | -0.08 | -0.04% |
| ALK | ALASKA AIR GROUP INC. | 39.76 | +0.98 | +2.53% |
Spirit AeroSystems, which produces parts of nan Max fuselages, was besides audited and grounded 7 of 13 audit points, nan outlet reported.
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FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker said successful an question and reply pinch "NBC Nightly News" that his caller travel to Boeing manufacturing accommodation near him pinch nan belief that "there are issues astir nan information civilization astatine Boeing."
He said that Boeing's "priorities person been connected accumulation and not connected information and quality, and truthful what we really are focused connected now is shifting that attraction from accumulation to information and quality."
FOX Business Eric Revell and Timothy Nerozzi contributed to this report.
