Six Alaska Airlines flight passengers are seeking compensation from Boeing after a door plug of an Alaska Airlines-operated flight blew off in mid-air last week.
The lawsuit, filed by passengers of the 737 MAX 9 and “on behalf of all others similarly situated,” alleged the incident “physically injured some passengers and emotionally traumatized most if not all aboard.”
According to the lawsuit, about 10 minutes after takeoff, the left door plug detached and shot off the aircraft, causing it to abruptly and violently depressurize.
The force of the depressurization ripped the shirt off a boy, and sucked cellphones, other debris, and much of the oxygen out of the aircraft.
“The shirtless boy leapt over the woman next to him, and escaped toward the front of the plane. At least two others seated near the hole followed and found new seats closer to the front,” it stated.
The cockpit door blew open, prompting a flight attendant to rush and attempt to close it. The pressure change resulted in bleeding ears, coupled with low oxygen, loud wind noise, and traumatic stress, causing severe headaches.
“Passengers were shocked, terrorized and confused, thrust into a waking nightmare, hoping they would live long enough to walk the earth again,” it stated.
In the lawsuit, one of the named passengers claimed that the door plug blow-out jolted her head back and forth, causing a concussion and soft tissue injuries to her neck and back.
”Her ears experienced so much pressure she thought her head would explode. She lost hearing and her left ear bled internally.
“These injuries led her into a state of confusion, as she could not perceive well what was happening. She has cried over worrying that if she were to die, her adolescent daughter would have nobody to care for her,” it added.
Another passenger reported experiencing difficulty breathing on the aircraft, according to the lawsuit.
Boeing Pledges Complete Transparency
Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun told employees during a meeting on Jan. 9 that the company will work with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is investigating the incident and will remain transparent with the agency throughout the probe.“We’re going to approach it with 100 percent and complete transparency every step of the way. We are going to work with the NTSB who is investigating the accident itself to find out what the cause is. We have a long experience with this group. They’re as good as it gets.”
Mr. Calhoun’s comments came shortly after the door plug fell off Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 as it was en route to California from Portland International Airport in Oregon on Jan. 5, prompting an emergency landing back in Portland.
The door plug—a two-by-four-foot (61-by-122-centimeter) panel covering an unused emergency door on the jetliner—blew out on the Boeing 737 MAX 9, at about 5:11 p.m. local time, leaving a gaping hole in the plane while 171 passengers and six crew members were on board.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has since grounded all 171 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft worldwide while it conducts safety inspections.
United Airlines and Alaska Airlines have both reported finding loose parts on several 737 Max 9 planes during inspections.
Boeing said in an update on Monday that it maintains in close contact with operators and will help them address “any and all findings.”
“We are committed to ensuring every Boeing airplane meets design specifications and the highest safety and quality standards,” it said.
