Boeing, Alaska Airlines settle mid-air door malfunction lawsuits

The three passengers who sued Alaska Airlines for a door malfunction during a flight have reached a settlement with the airline and manufacturer Boeing. The details of the settlement were kept confidential, according to a report from Fox12 in Oregon.

Settlement reached

Those passengers sued for $1 billion after a door plug flew out 16,000 feet in the air. The incident occurred on January 5, 2024, during a flight from Portland to Ontario, California.

The lawsuit sought damages for emotional and physical injuries. It was dismissed with prejudice on Monday, July 7, meaning the passengers cannot sue again.

The suit also alleged that some of the other 174 passengers onboard heard a whistling sound and reported it to the crew.

The flight eventually returned to Portland.

Boeing at fault

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found failures at Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) caused the plane door plug to blow out.

The NTSB identified Boeing’s inadequate training, guidance and oversight of factory workers as the primary cause.

According to the NTSB, Boeing workers removed the door plug but failed to document the action, so the bolts intended to secure the panel were never reinstalled. Only one person on the team had experience opening the door plug, and that person was on vacation.

Boeing has said it regrets the accident and continues to strengthen its safety processes.

Boeing issues

It’s been a tough year for Boeing, with several incidents causing the company financial issues.

Earlier this year, the company reported its biggest annual loss since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Boeing also laid off 10% of its workforce in October of last year, and a Boeing whistleblower who raised concerns about safety standards allegedly committed suicide last March.