The Department of Justice (DOJ) is now conducting a criminal inquiry after the Alaska Airlines incident, where a door panel blew off a Boeing 737 Max during a flight.
Investigators have reached out to some passengers and crew who were on the flight that had to make an emergency landing in Portland on January 5. The Wall Street Journal reported this on Saturday.
As stated by the outlet, the DOJ has interviewed pilots and flight attendants from the flight, referring to documents and sources familiar with the investigation.
The Boeing plane, operated by Alaska Airlines, experienced a blowout shortly after taking off at 16,000 feet. The pilots managed to land the plane with no major injuries, prompting increased criticism of Boeing since the incident.
The part of the plane that blew off was a panel blocking an additional emergency door. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) launched an investigation into the incident shortly after it occurred, while the Federal Aviation Administration is reviewing Boeing's overall safety.
The Hill has asked for a comment from Alaska Airlines, but the company informed The Associated Press. The company stated that in such an event, it's usual for the DOJ to carry out an investigation. The airline said that they are fully cooperating and do not believe they are the target of the investigation.
The DOJ's investigation will help assess whether Boeing has adhered to a prior settlement that resolved a federal investigation into the safety of 737 Max aircraft following fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, which resulted in the deaths of over 300 people, according to the Journal.
Last month, the NTSB reported that four bolts securing the door plug were missing after the panel was removed for repairs in September.
Earlier this week, NTSB said Boeing has not yet provided documentation related to the production and installation of the door plug that blew off. Last month, the NTSB said four bolts that keep the door plug in place were missing after the panel was removed so employees could repair something nearby in September.
Boeing admitted in a letter to Congress that it cannot find records for work done on the door panel for the Alaska Airlines plane, as noted by the AP.
The Hill has reached out to the DOJ and Boeing for further comment.
