The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation has reached out to passengers who were aboard an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 during a mid-air emergency on January 5th, indicating that they may potentially be considered victims of a crime. Letters sent to these passengers, as reported by Reuters, serve as a procedural measure in criminal investigations conducted by the Justice Department and suggest that the investigation into the MAX 9 emergency is advancing.
Dated Tuesday, these letters inform recipients that the FBI has identified them “as a possible victim of a crime” and that the case is currently under investigation. The letters also acknowledge that criminal investigations can be extensive processes, and due to various reasons, the FBI is unable to provide updates on its progress at this time.
The Seattle Times initially reported the existence of these letters.
When contacted for comment, an FBI spokesperson in Seattle declined, citing Justice Department policy, which typically refrains from confirming or denying ongoing investigations.
In 2022, the Justice Department updated its guidelines regarding the notification of potential crime victims. This followed complaints from relatives of individuals killed in two Boeing 737 MAX 8 crashes in 2018 and 2019, who argued that their legal rights were violated when the department entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with Boeing in January 2021 without informing them.
Additionally, the department issued an apology for not consulting with the relatives of the crash victims prior to announcing the deal. This agreement concluded a 21-month investigation into the design and development of the 737 MAX 8.
When approached for comment, Boeing declined to provide a statement on Friday. However, earlier this month, the company affirmed its commitment to cooperate fully and transparently with all government investigations.
Alaska Airlines, in response to the investigation, stated that it is fully cooperating and does not perceive itself as the focus of the probe.
During the midair emergency, a door plug panel detached from the side of the MAX 9 jet at an altitude of 16,000 feet, resulting in a hole approximately the size of a refrigerator. Despite the incident, the aircraft successfully landed with all 171 passengers and six crew members on board. However, seven passengers and one flight attendant sustained minor injuries.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), it was discovered that four crucial bolts were absent from the plane, which had been supplied by Boeing several months prior. Boeing has stated that it suspects the necessary documentation detailing the removal of these bolts was never generated.
Following the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented a temporary grounding of the MAX 9 for several weeks. Additionally, Boeing was prohibited from ramping up production rates of the MAX and was instructed to formulate a thorough plan within 90 days to rectify “systemic quality-control issues.”
Article source: www.reuters.com
