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 occurred in January 2024.
However, Fisher’s lawyers claim Boeing's attempts to deflect liability have led to great distress and even lawsuits from some passengers against the pilot following the incident.
“Boeing’s lie infuriated Captain Fisher, as he was being castigated for his actions instead of being lauded,” stated Fisher’s legal representatives in the complaint filed in an Oregon court. “Having flown Boeing aircraft throughout his employment, Fisher felt a profound personal betrayal as Boeing’s attempts to shift blame seemed in contradiction to their claims of valuing pilots.”
Additionally, four flight attendants, involved in the same incident, previously filed a lawsuit against the company.
The NTSB investigation determined that the blowout was due to four bolts securing the door plug panel not being replaced during a repair. Both Boeing and their key supplier, Spirit Aerosystems, were found complicit in the oversight.
The blowout, which caused a roaring air vacuum minutes after takeoff from Portland, resulted in minor injuries to seven passengers and one flight attendant, but the plane successfully returned to Portland.
If the outlet is interested in this story, the aftermath of the incident indicates how employee pressure and manufacturing practices may have compromised safety standards. Fisher's actions, as well as Boeing's response, will certainly be under scrutiny moving forward.
