FBI Alerts Alaska Airlines Passengers of Potential Crime Victim Status
The FBI has informed passengers of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9, involved in a mid-air emergency on Jan. 5, that they may be victims of a crime, indicating progress in the investigation. The incident involved a door plug panel tearing off, leaving a hole in the aircraft, and the NTSB finding missing bolts. The Justice Department's updated guidelines for notifying victims of potential crimes followed criticism over its handling of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 crashes. Both Boeing and Alaska Airlines are cooperating with the investigation, with the FAA grounding the MAX 9 for several weeks and ordering Boeing to address quality-control issues.
