FBI tells passengers on midair blowout flight they may be ‘crime’ victims

(The Hill) — Passengers on an Alaska Airlines flight who experienced a midair blowout earlier this year have received a letter from the FBI saying they may be crime victims.

“As a Victim Specialist with the Seattle Division, I’m contacting you because we have identified you as a possible victim of a crime,” the FBI letter, dated Tuesday, reads.

Attorney Mark Lindquist, who is representing over 20 passengers who were on the early January flight, provided a copy of the letter to The Hill and confirmed that it had been sent to his clients who were passengers on the Boeing 737 Max 9 flight. 

“This case is currently under investigation by the FBI,” the letter continues. “A criminal investigation can be a lengthy undertaking, and, for several reasons, we cannot tell you about its progress at this time. A victim of a federal crime is entitled to receive certain services. The enclosed brochure introduces you to the FBI’s Victim Assistance Program and the types of assistance that may be available to you.”

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month that the Department of Justice had launched a criminal probe into the Alaska Airlines flight on which an “explosive decompression” occurred when a panel plugging an unused emergency exit door, also known as a door plug, blew off midflight. 

Lindquist called the Boeing plane on which the blowout occurred “essentially a time bomb” in a segment on Fox News’ “Fox and Friends” last month.

“A plane was delivered by Boeing to Alaska Airlines without four critical bolts, which means the plane was essentially a time bomb. This door plug could have blown off at any time,” Lindquist said.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said in a preliminary report last month that four bolts that were supposed to assist in securing the door plug on the Boeing jet were missing before the blowout occurred.  

The Hill has reached out to Boeing, the FBI and Alaska Airlines.