Boeing Hauled into Court Tomorrow Re: Alaska Flight 1282 Fiasco

A King County Superior Court judge will hear argument on Friday, October 31, 2025, on a summary judgment motion that seeks to hold Boeing liable for failure to secure the left mid-exit door plug in the 737-9 MAX aircraft, flown by Alaska Airlines as Flight 1282. The door plug detached mid-flight, causing an explosive depressurization on January 5, 2024, but was able to return and land at the Portland, Oregon airport.

This motion to establish liability is the first by any group of passengers seeking to hold Boeing legally accountable for the physical and emotional impacts they suffered as a result of that violent and frightening experience. Boeing and its fuselage supplier Spirit AeroSystems, face multiple lawsuits alleging that the aircraft was defectively constructed, and alleging that Alaska Airlines negligently put it into service that day, despite multiple, accelerating pressure controller warnings. The court previously denied Boeing’s motion to dismiss passenger claims that the incident was an “outrage”.

The NTSB found that Boeing delayed the aircraft’s production because Spirit AeroSystems had improperly installed rivets near the door plug, and had failed to repair them at Boeing’s request, but rather had concealed them with paint. Boeing opened the door plug and repaired the rivets. But because the aircraft was backing up the production line, Boeing closed the door plug, did not install four retention bolts, and delivered it to Alaska Airlines.

Plaintiffs’ lawyer Daniel Laurence of Stritmatter Law, which represents 46 passengers, remarked, “Boeing admitted the defect to the NTSB. Boeing’s refusal to admit in court what everyone already knows is yet more ‘delay, deny and defend’. Boeing rolled a plane out the door that was ready to pop like a balloon and kill everyone aboard as well as possibly people on the ground. Miraculously, it held together enough to be able to land. Our clients were terrified and deserve a fair and expeditious resolution.”

Hearing:

Date: Friday, October 31, 2025
Time: 2:30 PM
Location: Maleng Regional Justice Center before Judge Nikole Hecklinger
Zoom: https://kingcounty.zoom.us/j/87882714988, Meeting ID: 878 8271 4988

About the Author

Over 35 years of law practice, my hallmarks – curiosity, craft and compassion – have become my clients’ advantage. I grew up debating at dinner time, exploring the outdoors, dwelling in foreign lands, building model airplanes and doing experiments. I studied the shapes of machines, bodies, plants and molecules. I worshiped the mechanical dream machine that was my bike. I have handled catastrophic product liability cases with a focus on defects in aircraft, other motor vehicles and industrial machines, as well as road design, insurance bad faith, medical and legal malpractice. I have put my interests, skills and experience to work recovering millions for injured people by trying and settling difficult and complex cases to achieve the best possible results consistent with client goals.