Alaska Airlines Door Plug Lawsuit Settled

Alaska Airlines Door Plug Lawsuit Settled

Introduction

Three passengers who sued Alaska Airlines and Boeing after a door plug detached mid-flight have reached an out-of-court settlement. The incident occurred on January 5, 2024, aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, California, when the door plug on a Boeing 737 Max blew off at 16,000 feet. The passengers had sought $1 billion in damages but settled earlier this month.

Lawsuit Dismissed With Prejudice

Court records show the lawsuit was dismissed on July 7 with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled. Attorneys for the passengers declined to disclose the settlement amount, citing the confidentiality terms of the agreement.

NTSB Investigation Finds Boeing at Fault

In June, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concluded that Boeing was responsible for the incident. Investigators found that four bolts securing the door plug were missing, allowing it to gradually loosen over more than 100 flights before detaching.

Boeing Responds to Safety Concerns

In a public statement, Boeing expressed regret over the accident and pledged to strengthen safety and quality standards across its operations. The company reiterated its commitment to preventing similar failures in the future.

Passengers Describe Harrowing Experience

The 174 passengers on board escaped without injury, thanks in part to the flight crew’s swift response. However, many described the experience as terrifying. The sudden decompression created a strong vacuum that pulled personal items from the cabin, and one passenger reported that the force tore the shirt from his back.

NTSB Chairwoman Calls Event a Preventable Tragedy

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy called the outcome “a miracle,” noting that no one was killed. She emphasized that the accident should never have happened, pointing to “multiple system failures” rather than the mistakes of individual employees. Homendy stressed that aviation safety depends on robust systems, not just the actions of a few people.