Passengers who were aboard the Alaska Airlines flight in which the door plug blew out mid-flight have received letters from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, telling them they may be a “possible victim of a crime.”
The FBI said an investigation has been opened and due to the “large number of potential victims in this case,” they may not receive another notice by mail. “A criminal investigation can be a lengthy undertaking, and for several reasons, we cannot tell you about its progress at this time.” The letter, dated March 19, informed the passengers about services available to them in the FBI Victim Assistance Program.
Mark Lindquist, the attorney representing 22 of the passengers in a lawsuit against the airlines and Boeing, who made the 737-9 MAX jet with the faulty door plug, released the letter to members of the media this week.
A new Boeing 737-9 MAX, nearly fresh off of the manufacturing line at Boeing, was flying from Portland, Ore. to Ontario, Calif. on Jan. 5 when, as it climbed out of Portland and was at 16,000 feet, a door plug at Row 26 port side blew from the plane, which depressurized quickly. Pilots were able to land safely back in Portland.
