Fixing parts were missing

Boeing emergency landing: FBI calls it a “crime”

On January 5, shortly after take-off in Portland, Oregon, part of the cabin wall of the Alaska Airlines plane flew out.(Bild: National Transportation Safety Board via AP, File)

More than two months after the emergency landing of a Boeing 737 MAX due to a broken fuselage part, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has informed passengers that they may have been the victims of a crime. 

"I am contacting you because we have identified you as a possible victim of a crime," says the FBI's letter to the passengers, which was viewed by the newspaper, according to the Seattle Times on Friday.

On January 5, shortly after take-off from Portland in the US state of Oregon, part of the cabin wall of the Alaska Airlines plane flew out.(Bild: National Transportation Safety Board via AP, File)

A criminal investigation could be a lengthy affair, the statement continued. "For various reasons, we are unable to update you on the status of this matter at this time," the US authorities explained.

About the Boeing emergency landing

On January 5, shortly after take-off from Portland in the US state of Oregon, part of the cabin wall of the Alaska Airlines plane flew out. As a result, the plane had to turn back and make an emergency landing in Portland. No one was injured in the incident, but according to experts, it could have been a disaster.

According to the US Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the necessary fasteners were not in place. According to a preliminary investigation by the NTSB, several bolts were missing from the affected part of the aircraft.

The FAA ordered a temporary grounding of aircraft of this type. This affected 171 aircraft.

The first of these later flew again. The FAA also prohibited Boeing from expanding the production of MAX aircraft from next year or from 2026.