Flight Attendants Sue Boeing Over 737 MAX 9 Cabin Incident

Four flight attendants from Alaska Airlines have filed lawsuits against Boeing, seeking compensation for physical and emotional injuries sustained during a mid-air cabin panel blowout on a 737 MAX 9 aircraft in January 2024. The suits, filed July 29 in Seattle’s King County Superior Court, allege negligence by Boeing in the production, sale, and maintenance of the aircraft and its components.

The incident occurred on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, which made an emergency landing after a fuselage gap appeared mid-flight. The lawsuits claim Boeing “knew or should have known of the quality control issues present in its production of the 737 MAX line of aircraft.” Attorney Tracy Brammeier, representing the plaintiffs, said, “Each of the four flight attendants acted courageously, following their training and putting their passengers’ safety first while fearing for their lives. They deserve to be fully compensated for this life-altering traumatic experience.”

The legal action follows increased scrutiny of Boeing’s safety practices after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released findings last month faulting the company for inadequate training, poor guidance, and insufficient oversight. The NTSB specifically criticized Boeing for failing to install four key bolts securing the cabin panel, which directly led to the blowout. The board also cited shortcomings by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in its oversight role.

This event has intensified Boeing’s regulatory and legal challenges, with the US Department of Justice opening a criminal investigation into the company for allegedly failing to comply with a 2021 deferred prosecution agreement related to prior safety violations.