The pilot who safely landed Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 after a midair blowout of a door plug on a Boeing 737 Max 9 is suing Boeing for $10 million, accusing the company of negligence, defective manufacturing, and trying to pin the blame on him for the incident.
Capt. Brandon Fisher was the pilot in command of the flight on Jan. 5, 2024, when a fuselage panel, known as a mid-exit door plug, blew out at about 16,000 feet, shortly after departure from Portland International Airport (PDX). It left a gaping hole in the left side of the aircraft near Row 26. No one was killed.
In the complaint, filed Dec 30 in Multnomah County Circuit Court, Capt. Fisher says that he and first officer Emily Wiprud “should have been hailed as heroes,” but that Boeing instead “attempted to shift blame,” including in a separate passenger lawsuit where Boeing suggested its products had been “improperly maintained or misused” by others.
Fisher claims that the statement, which garnered national media attention, targeted the cockpit crew and defamed him.
The lawsuit claims the explosive decompression near Portland was the result of “systemic failures” and an improperly secured mid-exit door plug on the nearly new jet.
The suit traces the assembly of the fuselage and door plug, alleging that once the aircraft arrived at Boeing in August 2023, inspectors found damaged rivets around the plug opening and documented tool damage to the frame, the complaint states. Spirit AeroSystems allegedly painted over discrepant rivets and falsely recorded that they had been replaced. Boeing later discovered that work had not been performed correctly, according to the filing.
The aircraft entered service in November 2023.The lawsuit says Boeing then opened the mid-exit door plug to allow rework, but failed to reinstall four critical bolts designed to prevent the plug from moving upward and separating in flight.
Fisher also claims the force of the event slammed his face into the heads-up display in the cockpit and dislodged his headset.
Fisher and Wiprud completed rapid depressurization procedures, set up an instrument approach, and landed on Runway 28L at Portland, where emergency crews met the aircraft at the gate, according to the filing. Four passengers seated near the blown-out panel were treated for injuries. The complaint calls Fisher’s actions “heroic,” asserting he simultaneously managed the damaged aircraft, avoided potential traffic conflicts, and considered the safety of cabin crew who might be out of their seats.
Fisher says he continues to suffer physical effects, including ear problems and reduced stamina, as well as ongoing emotional distress, intrusive memories, and reputational harm within the aviation community. He also notes that he was later named as a defendant in a passenger lawsuit, adding to the strain.
Fisher is demanding a jury trial and seeks $10 million in general compensatory damages, plus interest and costs. The complaint also signals his intent to seek punitive damages in an amended filing.
Boeing has not commented on the lawsuit.RELATED ARTICLES:NTSB to publish 35 findings, 19 recommendations after Boeing 737 MAX 9 door plug failureLatest on 737 MAX 9 Alaska Airlines emergency – aircraft had prior issues before panel ripped off mid-flightFAA proposes $3.1M in fines against Boeing for safety violations
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