FBI Says Passengers on Alaska Flight May Have Been Victim of a ‘Crime’ as Investigation Expands

The bad news for Boeing continues .

The aeroplane manufacturing business ’s troubles begin in January when one of its planes , a 737 MAX , suffered a fuselage rift mid - flying . The flight , Alaska Airlines 1282 , was in the physical process of occupy off from Portland , Oregon whena part of the planer ’s Isaac Hull suddenly blew out . The plane speedily routed back to the airport and landed without incident . While nobody was seriously spite as a result of the debacle , the incident kicked off what has become a months - longwhirlwind of negative attentionfor the planer manufacturer . That whirlwind has include intensifying media scrutiny , a slew ofadditional safety incidents , and a National Transportation Safety Board investigation into flight 1282 .

Two week ago , the fellowship ’s troubles doubled when it was reported that the Justice Department had formallylaunched a condemnable investigationinto flight of stairs 1282 . At the time , Alaska Airlines waved off business organization , remark that in “ an consequence like this , it ’s normal for the DOJ to be conducting an investigating . ” day later , the New York Times reported that the DOJ was “ extend ” its criminal probe and was in the process of institutionalise subpoenas relate to a princely jury .

Photo: Kevin Carter (Getty Images)

This workweek , it was expose that the FBI has been mail letters to rider of the Alaska flight of steps that submit they may have been dupe “ of a criminal offense . ” A copy of one of the letter was sharedwith NBCby Mark Lindquist , an attorney for some of the people who were on the escape . The letter , which was write by a victim specialist with the FBI ’s Seattle division , aver : “ I ’m contacting you because we have identified you as a possible dupe of a crime . ” The letter also observe that the FBI is lead a “ criminal investigation , ” which could take time to finish .

Gizmodo reached out to the Justice Department and Boeing for more data and will update this story when they answer .

Boeing ’s troubles have multiply in innumerous , sometimes surprising ways . In addition to the ongoing guard concern concern to its aircraft , the company has suffer a whirlpool of online unfavorable judgment due tothe decease of a corporate whistleblower , John Barnett . Barnett , who formerly criticized the company ’s yield and safety procedures , was drained at his motel two weeks ago . His death , which officials have said appear to be the result of suicide , has nonetheless spurred online conspiracy theories — due mostly to the fact that Barnett was engaged in a whistleblower revenge causa against the company at the time of his death . Barnett ’s fellowship hasaccused Boeing of subject him to a“hostile work surround , ” which they believe “ led to his end . ”

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