Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 Passengers Potentially Victims of Crime: FBI Investigation
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has informed passengers aboard an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9, which experienced a mid-air emergency on January 5th, that they may potentially be victims of a crime, as indicated in letters obtained by Reuters. These letters, a procedural measure in certain criminal investigations conducted by the Justice Department, signify progress in the inquiry into the MAX 9 emergency.
Dated Tuesday, the letters notify passengers that the FBI has identified them “as a possible victim of a crime” and that the case is currently under investigation. However, due to the nature of criminal investigations, the FBI cannot disclose any progress regarding the case at this time. The Seattle Times initially reported on these letters.
An FBI spokesperson in Seattle refrained from commenting, citing Justice Department policy, which neither confirms nor denies ongoing investigations.
The Justice Department’s approach to notifying potential crime victims was updated in 2022 following concerns raised by relatives of individuals who perished in the two Boeing 737 MAX 8 crashes in 2018 and 2019. These relatives asserted that their legal rights were infringed upon when the department entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with Boeing in January 2021 without prior notification. Additionally, the department apologized for failing to meet with the crash victims’ relatives before announcing the agreement, which concluded a 21-month investigation into the design and development of the 737 MAX 8.
Boeing declined to provide comments on Friday but reiterated its commitment to full cooperation and transparency with all government investigations earlier this month. Alaska Airlines stated that it is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation and does not believe it is the subject of the probe.
During the mid-air emergency, a door plug panel detached from the side of the MAX 9 jet at 16,000 feet, resulting in a refrigerator-sized hole in the aircraft. Fortunately, the plane landed safely with all 171 passengers and six crew members on board, albeit with seven passengers and one flight attendant sustaining minor injuries.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed that four critical bolts appeared to be missing from the plane, which had been delivered by Boeing several months prior. Boeing countered by suggesting that the necessary documents detailing the removal of these bolts were never produced.
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