Alaska Airlines flight makes emergency landing after window blows out

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SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A United Airlines flight that took off from San Francisco International Airport Friday morning landed in Oregon with a missing external panel, according to officials.

United Airlines Boeing 737-800 plane lands in Medford, Oregon with missing external panel after taking off from SFO | abc7news.com

A%20United%20Airlines%20flight%20that%20took%20off%20from%20San%20Francisco%20International%20Airport%20Friday%20morning%20landed%20in%20Oregon%20with%20a%20missing%20external%20panel.
abc7news.com abc7news.com
 
IceIce9 said:
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A United Airlines flight that took off from San Francisco International Airport Friday morning landed in Oregon with a missing external panel, according to officials.

United Airlines Boeing 737-800 plane lands in Medford, Oregon with missing external panel after taking off from SFO | abc7news.com

A%20United%20Airlines%20flight%20that%20took%20off%20from%20San%20Francisco%20International%20Airport%20Friday%20morning%20landed%20in%20Oregon%20with%20a%20missing%20external%20panel.
abc7news.com abc7news.com
Click to expand...

Apparently it's a 26 year old plane. So it's unlikely to be related to any recent issues with Boeing's build quality.

On the other hand, there have been several recent incidents with United planes that make you wonder about their maintenance operation.
 
Passengers on an Alaska Airlines flight who experienced a midair blowout earlier this year have received a letter from the FBI saying they may be crime victims.

“As a Victim Specialist with the Seattle Division, I’m contacting you because we have identified you as a possible victim of a crime,” the FBI letter, dated Tuesday, reads.

Attorney Mark Lindquist, who is representing over 20 passengers who were on the early January flight, provided a copy of the letter to The Hill and confirmed that it had been sent to his clients who were passengers on the Boeing 737 Max 9 flight.

“This case is currently under investigation by the FBI,” the letter continues. “A criminal investigation can be a lengthy undertaking, and, for several reasons, we cannot tell you about its progress at this time. A victim of a federal crime is entitled to receive certain services. The enclosed brochure introduces you to the FBI’s Victim Assistance Program and the types of assistance that may be available to you.”

wreg.com

FBI tells passengers on midair blowout flight they may be ‘crime’ victims

Passengers on an Alaska Airlines flight who experienced a midair blowout earlier this year have received a letter from the FBI saying they may be crime victims.
wreg.com wreg.com
 
sds71 said:
Passengers on an Alaska Airlines flight who experienced a midair blowout earlier this year have received a letter from the FBI saying they may be crime victims.

“As a Victim Specialist with the Seattle Division, I’m contacting you because we have identified you as a possible victim of a crime,” the FBI letter, dated Tuesday, reads.

Attorney Mark Lindquist, who is representing over 20 passengers who were on the early January flight, provided a copy of the letter to The Hill and confirmed that it had been sent to his clients who were passengers on the Boeing 737 Max 9 flight.

“This case is currently under investigation by the FBI,” the letter continues. “A criminal investigation can be a lengthy undertaking, and, for several reasons, we cannot tell you about its progress at this time. A victim of a federal crime is entitled to receive certain services. The enclosed brochure introduces you to the FBI’s Victim Assistance Program and the types of assistance that may be available to you.”

wreg.com

FBI tells passengers on midair blowout flight they may be ‘crime’ victims

Passengers on an Alaska Airlines flight who experienced a midair blowout earlier this year have received a letter from the FBI saying they may be crime victims.
wreg.com wreg.com
Click to expand...
I can't recall a prior case where an aircraft mishap caused by faulty design, construction or maintenance was treated criminally. At least not in the U.S. (I believe it has happened in other countries.)

I wonder why the FBI feels this could be criminal. And are they investigating Boeing and Sprint or are they investigating the employees?
 
ch_13 said:
I can't recall a prior case where an aircraft mishap caused by faulty design, construction or maintenance was treated criminally. At least not in the U.S. (I believe it has happened in other countries.)

I wonder why the FBI feels this could be criminal. And are they investigating Boeing and Sprint or are they investigating the employees?
Click to expand...
It is interesting for sure. And what effect with the threat of criminal prosecution have upon the NTSB investigation and the civil actions.
 
PrairieWind said:
It is interesting for sure. And what effect with the threat of criminal prosecution have upon the NTSB investigation and the civil actions.
Click to expand...
Just curious, the Grand Jury is out of Seattle because that's where Boeing is based, rather than Portland, because the flight originated out of PDX?
 
LinasK said:
Just curious, the Grand Jury is out of Seattle because that's where Boeing is based, rather than Portland, because the flight originated out of PDX?
Click to expand...
Just a guess, but the factory where the bolts were removed from the door plug is in Renton, Washington.

Boeing's corporate HQ is actually in Virginia now.
 
ch_13 said:
I can't recall a prior case where an aircraft mishap caused by faulty design, construction or maintenance was treated criminally. At least not in the U.S. (I believe it has happened in other countries.)

I wonder why the FBI feels this could be criminal. And are they investigating Boeing and Sprint or are they investigating the employees?
Click to expand...

My guess would be, the latter.
 
ch_13 said:
I can't recall a prior case where an aircraft mishap caused by faulty design, construction or maintenance was treated criminally. At least not in the U.S. (I believe it has happened in other countries.)

I wonder why the FBI feels this could be criminal. And are they investigating Boeing and Sprint or are they investigating the employees?
Click to expand...
The NTSB said Boeing isn’t cooperating with their investigation. They won’t (or can’t) submit the names of the people who worked on the door plug. I thought this required documentation?

Boeing blasted for ‘absurd’ lack of cooperation in Alaska Airlines blowout probe after no documents found showing how the airplane left its factory missing bolts
 
A long-ish article from the NYTimes about the problems at Boeing.
www.nytimes.com

‘Shortcuts Everywhere’: How Boeing Favored Speed Over Quality

Problems have plagued the manufacturer even after two fatal crashes, and many current and former employees blame its focus on making planes more quickly.
www.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com

It's beyond a paywall, so I won't quote from it. But here's a short summary:
  • The Times is reporting that within the last year at least three brand-new 737 Max's encountered serious issues, two of them while in-flight.
  • Insiders say that the company was pushing to speed up production, leading to quality checks being skipped and assembly being done incorrectly.
  • Also, a lot of veteran engineers have retired in the last few years and their replacements are not being appropriately trained.
 
ElizB said:
The NTSB said Boeing isn’t cooperating with their investigation. They won’t (or can’t) submit the names of the people who worked on the door plug. I thought this required documentation?

Boeing blasted for ‘absurd’ lack of cooperation in Alaska Airlines blowout probe after no documents found showing how the airplane left its factory missing bolts
Click to expand...
This might get complicated now they know a criminal investigation is underway. People may not be willing to cooperate and start lawyering up. I'm not saying criminal case isn't warranted, sounds like it might. But it can change how things happen. I have great faith in the NTSB and I think they generally get good cooperation.
 
LinasK said:
Would that be different if someone onboard had gotten killed? I know a few passengers were injured.
Click to expand...
No, I don't think so. This is a federal investigation so they could do it anywhere, but would likely bring it where they believe the criminal act occurred, which I am guessing is at the Renton factory.
 
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