The FBI has reached out to passengers of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 flight that experienced a mid-air emergency on January 5, indicating they may be potential victims of a crime.
Letters sent by the FBI, a standard procedure in certain criminal investigations by the Justice Department, suggest that the probe into the MAX 9 incident is progressing. These letters, dated Tuesday, inform passengers that the case is under active investigation, though details remain undisclosed.
An FBI spokesperson in Seattle remained silent on the matter, adhering to the Justice Department's policy of neither confirming nor denying ongoing investigations.
This development follows the Justice Department's 2022 update on victim notification guidelines after criticism over its handling of previous Boeing 737 MAX 8 crash investigations. In those instances, relatives of the victims expressed frustration over not being informed about the prosecution deals with Boeing.
Boeing has stated its commitment to fully cooperating with all government investigations but offered no further comments on the current situation.
Alaska Airlines has affirmed its cooperation with the investigation, expressing confidence that it is not the primary focus of the probe.
The incident involved a door plug panel detaching from the aircraft at 16,000 feet, resulting in a sizable hole but allowing the plane to land safely with all on board. While most passengers were unharmed, seven passengers and one flight attendant sustained minor injuries.
The National Transportation Safety Board reported that four critical bolts were missing from the plane, which were not accounted for in the documentation provided by Boeing. In response, the FAA temporarily grounded the MAX 9 fleet, halted production increases, and mandated Boeing to rectify systemic quality-control issues within 90 days.
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Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 passengers may be crime victims: FBI
cgtn.com
