The Alaska Airlines pilot who has been universally praised as a hero for safely landing a jet after a door plug panel flew off shortly after takeoff is suing Boeing because he believes the plane maker wrongly tried to blame him and the rest of the crew in past legal filings.
Captain Brandon Fisher was commended by the heads of the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration and even Boeing executives for helping ensure none of the 177 people aboard flight 1282 were killed when the blowout happened in January 2024.
But Fisher’s lawyers say that Boeing’s attempts to deflect liability in past lawsuits despite what the NTSB investigation found led to the pilot being sued by some passengers and caused him great distress.
“Boeing’s lie infuriated Captain Fisher as well, as he was being castigated for his actions as opposed to being lauded,” Fisher’s lawyers, William Walsh and Richard Mummalo, wrote in the lawsuit filed in an Oregon court. “Because he had flown Boeing aircraft for the entirety of his employment with Alaska Airlines, Boeing’s attempts to blame him felt like a deep, personal betrayal by a company that claimed to hold pilots in the highest regard.”
Four flight attendants previously sued Boeing over the incident last summer.
The NTSB investigation of the blowout found that four bolts securing what is known as the door plug panel were removed and never replaced during a repair as the Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft was being assembled. Boeing and key supplier Spirit Aerosystems, which has since been acquired by Boeing, were both implicated.
The blowout occurred minutes after the flight took off from Portland, Oregon, creating a roaring air vacuum. Seven passengers and one flight attendant sustained minor injuries, but the plane was able to land safely.
The situation has sparked considerable attention, considering Boeing had previously faced scrutiny for safety violations. The FAA fined Boeing $3.1 million over safety violations found after the incident, yet later allowed the company to increase production of the 737 Max despite ongoing concerns.
Alaska Airlines expressed gratitude towards its crew members, stating they were thankful for the quick-thinking and bravery displayed during the emergency. Meanwhile, Boeing's representatives have yet to directly comment on Fisher's lawsuit.
