More chaos for Boeing as criminal investigation begins into terrifying 16,000-foot swinging door on Alaska Airlines flight

World

A criminal investigation has been launched into Boeing following a terrifying 16,000-foot door slam on an Alaska Airlines flight.

Investigators reportedly contacted some passengers and crew members aboard the 737 MAX on January 5.

The fuselage plug area of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 Boeing 737-9 MAX, which was forced to make an emergency landingCredit: Reuters

The area of the fuselage plug is examined after it was jettisoned in mid-airCredit: Reuters

Passengers and cabin crew have now been interviewed as part of a new investigationCredit: AP

Boeing finds itself at the center of more controversy just days later a wheel fell off a crowded plane during takeoff last week at an airport in San Francisco.

As part of the new investigation, the Justice Department interviewed pilots and flight attendants on the flight.

“In an event like this, it is normal for the DOJ to conduct an investigation,” Alaska Airlines said. “We are fully cooperating and do not believe we are a target of the investigation.”

The Sun has asked Boeing for comment.

The investigation comes at a time when Boeing is already under scrutiny for its safety performance following a series of incidents.

This also includes the two fatal crashes involving the Boeing 737 MAX in both 2018 and 2019.

The DOJ investigation will inform authorities’ assessment of whether Boeing met the terms of a $2.5 billion (£1.9 billion) settlement to avoid prosecution related to these crashes, the Wall reported StreetJournal.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has since conducted an audit of the company, including interviews with employees and a visit to the production line.

On Monday, the FAA said it had “identified noncompliance issues in its audit of Boeing’s manufacturing process, parts handling and storage, and product control.”

They added that Boeing has 90 days to formulate a plan to resolve the problems.

In a separate report released last month, the FAA revealed that it had found serious problems with Boeing’s safety culture, including fear of retaliation among employees with safety concerns.