"Emergency Landing With Hole in Fuselage: US Crew Members Sue Boeing for Damages"

Claim of "Personal and Professional Damages Due to Physical and Psychological Harm"

Crew members who were aboard the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft that made an emergency landing after a hole appeared in its fuselage during flight in January last year have filed a lawsuit against Boeing for damages.

Boeing passenger plane with fuselage torn during flight. Photo by AP Yonhap News

On August 1, ABC News reported that four crew members who were on the aircraft each filed a complaint against Boeing in King County Court, Seattle, Washington, on July 29, stating that “they suffered personal, permanent, and ongoing financial damages as a result of the incident,” citing physical and psychological harm.

In the complaint, they argued, “As a direct and indirect result of the door plug (emergency exit cover) detachment and the resulting decompression, the plaintiffs suffered physical and psychological injuries, severe emotional distress, other damages, and personal and financial losses.”

Michelle Hughes, one of the four crew members who filed the lawsuit, stated that the aftermath of the incident caused “physical and psychological harm, resulting in damages to my personal and professional life,” and added, “I experienced great difficulty returning to the dream job in which I had built my career with pride.” Another crew member, Christine Vasconcellos, emphasized, “This is an incident that should never happen again.”

The plaintiffs’ legal representative explained, “The crew acted bravely as they were trained, prioritizing passenger safety even in a life-threatening situation,” and added, “They deserve compensation for this shocking experience that has completely changed their lives.”

Boeing declined to comment on the lawsuit. Regarding last year’s incident, the company reiterated its position that “it supported all regulatory investigations in a transparent and proactive manner.”

Boeing passenger plane with fuselage torn during flight. ABC7 News

Previously, on January 5 last year, Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, a Boeing 737 MAX 9 carrying 177 people, took off from Portland, Oregon, and shortly after takeoff, the door plug detached from the side of the aircraft. The plane made an emergency landing with a hole in its fuselage, and fortunately, there were no casualties. However, as cabin pressure dropped rapidly, oxygen masks deployed and chaos and fear spread among the passengers.

A preliminary investigation by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed that four bolts securing the door were missing during assembly. As a result of this incident, Boeing faced disruptions in production and delivery, and its CEO was replaced.

Passengers who were on the flight filed a lawsuit against Boeing and Alaska Airlines in March 2024, seeking $1 billion (approximately 1.39 trillion won) in compensation and punitive damages. In their complaint, they claimed that “Boeing and Alaska Airlines prioritized profit over safety,” and argued that the incident occurred due to structural problems at these companies.