DOJ opens investigation into Alaska Airlines incident of door panel blowing out midair, WSJ says

The Justice Division has began a felony investigation into the Alaska Airways incident the place a door panel blew out mid-air two months in the past, The Wall Road Journal reported Saturday.

The newspaper, citing paperwork and other people accustomed to the matter, mentioned investigators have contacted passengers, pilots and flight attendants on Flight 1282 on Jan. 5 heading to Ontario, California from Portland, Oregon, the place a piece of the airplane ripped off midair, forcing the crew to make an emergency touchdown.

The investigation would assist the DOJ its in evaluate of whether or not Boeing complied with an earlier settlement of a federal investigation into two deadly 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019, the Journal mentioned.

“In an occasion like this, it is regular for the DOJ to be conducting an investigation,” an Alaska Airways spokesperson mentioned. “We’re absolutely cooperating and don’t consider we’re a goal of the investigation.” 

Boeing and DOJ did not instantly reply to a CNBC request for remark.

Boeing 737 Max 9 planes flown by Alaska have resumed common service after being grounded for inspections. Alaska and United Airways, the 2 U.S. carriers that fly the Max 9, canceled hundreds of flights in January after the incident.

Three passengers are suing Boeing and Alaska Airways for $1 billion in damages, accusing Boeing and Alaska Airways of negligence for allegedly having ignored warning indicators.

Alaska Airways earlier estimated that the weekslong grounding of the Boeing 737 Max 9 will value the provider $150 million.

— Learn the unique WSJ story right here.

— CNBC’s Rebecca Picciotto contributed reporting.