Lawsuit Claims ‘Whistling Sound’ Observed on Prior Boeing Max 9 Flight Preceding Door Plug Blowout

In a recent lawsuit filed against Boeing and Alaska Airlines, new allegations have emerged regarding a “whistling sound” heard on a previous flight of the Boeing 737 Max 9 before a door plug blew out during an Alaska Airlines flight last month. The lawsuit, filed by attorney Mark Lindquist on behalf of 22 passengers, accuses the companies of negligence and has now been amended to include 18 additional plaintiffs.

According to the complaint, passengers on the earlier flight reported hearing a sound coming from the vicinity of the door plug. They alerted flight attendants, who then informed a pilot. However, after checking the cockpit instruments and finding no abnormalities, no further action was taken. The lawsuit does not specify when the previous flight took place or who made the sound allegations.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report which revealed that four bolts intended to secure the door plug were missing before it flew off during the incident last month. Without these bolts, the plug was free to slide upward and detach from the airframe. While the report did not identify who removed the bolts, it did not assign blame or declare a probable cause for the detachment.

Boeing declined to comment on the matter, and Alaska Airlines stated that it does not comment on pending litigation. The investigation into the incident is expected to last for at least a year before a probable cause is determined.

Timothy Loranger, an aviation lawyer and licensed pilot, suggested that the whistling sound described in the lawsuit may not be directly related to the door plug. However, he acknowledged that it was plausible given the prior pressurization issues experienced by the aircraft. Loranger explained that if passengers heard a whistling noise, it could indicate small leaks around the seal, affecting the aircraft’s pressure.

Following the incident involving the Alaska Airlines flight, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded most Max 9s for three weeks until an inspection process for door plugs was approved. The FAA is currently investigating whether Boeing and its suppliers followed proper safety procedures during the manufacturing of Max parts.

The door plug blowout has raised further concerns about manufacturing quality at Boeing, which first came under scrutiny after the crashes of two Max 8 jets in 2018 and 2019, resulting in the deaths of 346 people.

The incidents surrounding the Boeing 737 Max aircraft have cast a shadow over the company’s reputation and raised questions about its commitment to safety. With ongoing investigations and lawsuits, it remains to be seen how Boeing will address these concerns and restore confidence in its aircraft. The aviation industry, regulators, and passengers will be closely watching as the investigation unfolds and the lawsuit progresses.