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An Alaska Airlines pilot who landed a plane safely after a cabin tire blowout is reportedly suing Boeing, claiming the plane manufacturer tried to shift blame for the incident to him.
Captain Brandon Fisher filed the lawsuit in Oregon on December 30, seeking $10 million in damages. The complaint alleges that Boeing attempted to scapegoat Fisher in the aftermath of the emergency.
The lawsuit stems from Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, a Boeing 737 Max 9 that was forced to make an emergency landing on January 5, 2024, shortly after departing from Portland, Oregon, when a cabin door plug blew out mid-flight.
All 177 people on board survived.
NTSB Blames BOEING, FAA for ALASKA AIRLINES’ Terrifying Door Release
A plastic sheet covers part of the fuselage of the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft outside a hangar at Portland International Airport on January 8, 2024 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/Getty Images)
In June, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concluded that “multiple system failures” at Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) led to the incident.
Fisher’s lawsuit alleges that Boeing denied responsibility while defending a related class action lawsuit, arguing that its products were “improperly maintained or misused by persons and/or entities other than Boeing.”
“Boeing knew this statement was false at the time it was made, but made it anyway as part of its frequently used post-accident strategy to blame pilots for incidents caused solely by its own actions,” the lawsuit said. “It was clear that Boeing’s words were directed at Captain Fisher in an attempt to portray him as the scapegoat for Boeing’s numerous failures.”
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALK | ALASKA AIR GROUP INC. | 49.80 | -0.95 |
-1.88% |
As a result, Fisher suffered emotional distress, adding that Boeing’s comments “dramatically exacerbated the life-changing consequences” of the incident for the pilot, the lawsuit said.
ALASKA AIRLINES AIRPLANE HAS BLOWN DOOR PANEL FOR SCHEDULED SAFETY CHECK: REPORT
In August, four flight attendants from the same flight filed separate lawsuits against Boeing, alleging physical and emotional injuries, Reuters reported.
Aviation officials and Boeing executives previously praised the crew of Flight 1282 for their handling of the emergency.
“Over the past two years, we have taken a disciplined look at every facet of our manufacturing operations,” the spokesperson said. “We have developed a comprehensive plan to strengthen Boeing’s safety management, quality assurance and safety culture – and we see the benefits of these actions.”
PASSENGERS FACE HUGE LAWSUIT WITH ALASKA AIRLINES AND BOEING AFTER MIDFLIGHT DOOR PLUG ERROR
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