FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9, 2026
Seattle, Washington.
Today Boeing lost its second attempt to dismiss the claim for punitive damages brought by the 47-member Anderson Plaintiff group for damages arising out of the Alaska Flight 1282 door blowout event of January 5, 2024. The incident occurred when a left-side door panel blew off of the plane leaving a gaping hole mid-flight. The primary cause: Boeing forgot to put bolts back on.
Boeing argued in King County Superior Court that Washington State does not have punitive damages. But a conflicts of law analysis does provide for such damages if the misconduct arose in a state which permits punitive damages. The Court found that Boeing failed to prove its position and that the issue was one that would be determined at trial.
“A door doesn’t fall from the sky by accident. It falls from a boardroom, one unkept promise at a time,” explained Mo Hamoudi of Stritmatter Law, who argued on behalf of the Plaintiff group.
Learn more about the Alaska Flight 1282 Litigation.
