The law firm CaseyGerry is representing those who were on Alaska Airlines flight 1282 from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, California, when the door plug dislodged and left a gaping hole in the side of the plane. Six crew members and 171 passengers, including four unaccompanied minors, went through this terrifying ordeal due to the negligence of others. Our aviation accident attorneys are working with clients who are suffering from the physical, mental, and emotional impact of that incident. Call to begin working with an Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 lawyer.
What Happened?
The Alaska Airline plane in question was the newly released Boeing 737 Max 9, which was cleared for flights on October 25, 2023. Alaska Airlines added the new plane to its fleet less than a week later.
On Friday, January 5, 2023, Alaska Airlines flight 1282 took off on a routine flight from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, California. Shortly after takeoff, and at 16,000 feet in the air, the aircraft door plug blew off a hole in the plane.
Oxygen masks were deployed as the wind ripped headrests off passenger seats. The wind rushed through the hole in the plane with a force so powerful that it ripped the shirt right off a minor on the plane. Fearing the worst, terrified passengers texted loved ones to say their goodbyes.
The crew attempted to keep the cabin calm; however, passengers were unable to hear over the noise from the wind.
The pilot was able to make an emergency landing back at the Portland airport.
The Warning Signs
Prior to the harrowing events on flight 1282, Alaska Airlines experienced several alerts on the aircraft.
According to a CNN article on the incident, the plane’s “auto pressurization fail” light had lit up several times, leading to the January 5th incident, including on January 3rd and 4th. The board chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Jennifer Homendy, offered that this was a common problem and their response to it was standard procedure. When the fail light lit up, a crew member flipped the switch to backup and reported the incident, after which the maintenance crew tested it and reset it.
A BBC report on the incident asked the big question on everyone’s mind: why did the airline allow the Boeing plane to fly after so many “auto pressurization fail” warnings? This warning light comes on when cabin pressure drops or rises at an abnormal rate. Incidentally, the same fail warnings also come on for minor reasons. Each warning was reported to the maintenance crew, who appeared to follow airline procedures. However, the repeated warnings did indeed raise red flags, as the aircraft was restricted from certain flight paths. Furthermore, more NTSB investigations were to be performed before the January 5th flight.
The Investigation
The NTSB is investigating the incident and is looking into the system of bolts that failed to hold the door plug in place. In addition, Alaska Airlines and other airlines have since reported finding loose bolts on their Boeing 737 Max 9 planes.
Litigation Against Boeing and Alaska Airlines
Lawsuits have been filed by passengers against the manufacturer Boeing for negligence and strict product liability, and against Alaska Airlines for negligence.
The lawsuits seek compensation for physical, emotional, and mental trauma following the January 5th accident when Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, California, lost a door plug 16,000 feet off the ground, leaving a large hole in the side of the plane.
Work With an Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 Attorney
CaseyGerry is representing those who were impacted by the Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 accident. Our clients and their loved ones are suffering severe emotional and mental distress, including anxiety and nightmares, as a result of this horrendous experience.
Our law firm has been representing aviation accident victims and their families for over 40 years, helping them hold powerful multinational companies, and even government entities accountable for incidents such as these.
Aviation litigation is a highly complex area of law and requires experience as well as specialized legal expertise that includes extensive knowledge of aviation law, especially as it relates to multiple jurisdictions. For example, in this case, the airline is headquartered in Washington, the Boeing facility where the aircraft was designed and manufactured is also in Washington, the airframe was manufactured in Kansas, and the door plug in Malaysia. A case such as this requires an aviation litigation team that not only has the knowledge of the applicable laws in these jurisdictions but how to work within any restrictions to get the best results for our clients.
Our team is experienced in establishing liability for airplane injuries and achieving justice for our clients. We have successfully handled high-profile cases similar to the Alaska Airlines Flight 1828 Door Plug disaster and protected our clients from the frenzy of such a public incident while ensuring they are not taken advantage of or moved to the sidelines. Some of our high-profile aviation cases include the Reno Air Show catastrophe, the Asiana Airlines San Francisco disaster, and more.
Our aviation accident attorneys provide a comprehensive approach, starting with our own in-house investigative team that fast-tracks findings and uncovers vital information that helps our clients get the justice they deserve.
If you or someone you know were passengers on the January 5, 2024 Alaska Airline Flight 1282 from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, California, we encourage you to contact us for a confidential consultation to explore your legal rights with an Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 lawyer.