Captain Brandon Fisher, the pilot of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, has initiated a lawsuit seeking $10 million against The Boeing Company and Spirit AeroSystems. The legal action, filed in Multnomah County, Oregon, stems from a January 2024 incident in which a door plug detached from a Boeing 737 MAX-9 aircraft shortly after takeoff. Fisher's lawsuit alleges that Boeing attempted to attribute blame for the incident to him and his flight crew, resulting in personal and professional repercussions, despite federal investigations commending the crew's actions and identifying manufacturing issues as the cause.
Incident Overview
On January 5, 2024, Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, a Boeing 737 MAX-9, experienced a rear door plug detachment shortly after departing from Portland International Airport. Captain Fisher, along with First Officer Emily Wiprud, successfully landed the aircraft safely. There were no fatalities among the 177 individuals on board, though seven passengers and one flight attendant sustained minor injuries.
Following the incident, Captain Fisher received commendations for his role in the safe landing from entities including the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and executives from Boeing.
Lawsuit Details and Allegations
Captain Fisher's lawsuit names both Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems as defendants and seeks $10 million in damages.
The lawsuit claims that Boeing attempted to shift responsibility for the incident by suggesting that Captain Fisher and First Officer Wiprud made errors, and by asserting that the aircraft was "improperly maintained or misused." These actions, according to the lawsuit, led to Captain Fisher being sued by some passengers involved in the incident and are alleged to have caused him distress.
The lawsuit further asserts that federal authorities concluded Captain Fisher and First Officer Wiprud acted competently under the circumstances. In May 2024, the FBI reportedly informed Captain Fisher that he might have been a victim of criminally negligent conduct by Boeing. Fisher is identified in the suit as a resident of Vancouver, Washington, and is represented by legal professionals William Walsh and Richard Mummalo.
Investigation Findings and Context
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation into the door plug detachment concluded that four bolts intended to secure the panel were removed during the aircraft's assembly phase and were not subsequently reinstalled. The NTSB determined that this occurred during a repair process and implicated both Boeing and its supplier, Spirit AeroSystems. Investigators noted that these bolts are located behind interior panels, making them inaccessible for preflight inspection by airline personnel. The NTSB also found that the door plug had gradually shifted upward over the 154 flights preceding the incident before its detachment. The NTSB explicitly attributed the incident to a manufacturing issue and affirmed the crew's actions. John Cox, CEO of aviation safety consulting firm Safety Operating Systems, supported these findings, stating no fault was assigned to the crew.
This lawsuit follows other legal actions; four flight attendants involved in the same incident previously sued Boeing in the summer of 2024.
Company Responses and Regulatory Actions
Boeing has not issued a direct comment regarding Captain Fisher's lawsuit. However, Stan Deal, then head of Boeing's commercial airplane unit, had previously commended the Alaska Airlines crew for the safe landing. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, who assumed his role in August 2024, has indicated an increased focus on safety improvements.
Alaska Airlines also declined to comment on the lawsuit but reiterated its appreciation for its crew members' actions during Flight 1282, acknowledging their role in ensuring passenger safety. It remains publicly unconfirmed whether Captain Fisher is currently active as a pilot.
In related regulatory actions, the FAA imposed a $3.1 million fine on Boeing for identified safety violations following the door plug incident. In October 2024, the FAA authorized Boeing to increase 737 Max production to 42 aircraft per month, citing satisfaction with the company's implemented safety measures.