The Department of Justice has reportedly launched a criminal probe into an incident involving an Alaska Airlines flight where a door panel blew off, as first uncovered by The Wall Street Journal. The flight in question, Flight 1282 en route to Ontario, California from Portland, Oregon on January 5, underwent a harrowing emergency landing when a section of the plane detached mid-flight. Citing sources and documents close to the investigation, The Wall Street Journal notes that investigators have already reached out to passengers and crew members who experienced the midair scare.

The inquiry is part of a broader examination into Boeing's adherence to a settlement reached after previous scrutiny stemming from two fatal 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019. Despite conducting regular service after the blowout, both Alaska and United Airlines, which operate the Max 9, had to cancel thousands of flights in January. According to NBC Washington, Alaska Airlines put the cost of the grounding at about $150 million. The airline has stated to multiple sources, "In an event like this, it's normal for the DOJ to be conducting an investigation. We are fully cooperating and do not believe we are a target of the investigation."

Adding to the complications, Boeing's challenges with documentation have been brought to light. As reported by the Seattle Times and cited by The Los Angeles Times, Boeing executives have admitted to not being able to locate records for work completed on the Alaska Airlines plane's door panel. This has raised red flags about Boeing's quality assurance practices, with NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy stating, "It's absurd that two months later we don't have that."

Boeing's stumble was highlighted during a contentious Senate committee hearing, where Boeing and the NTSB argued over cooperation and shared information. Following sharp criticism, Boeing, after the hearing, decided to release names of employees associated with the 737 doors, as detailed by Reuters. This followed Boeing's insistence in a written statement to Sen. Maria Cantwell, "Boeing was not aware of any complaints or concerns about a lack of collaboration" with the safety board until the hearing erupted.

Moreover, Alaska Airlines confirmed to Reuters its full cooperation with the DOJ. After the incident, the FAA ordered the temporary grounding of 171 similar MAX 9 jets, raising more turbulence for Boeing's 737 MAX program. The incident's aftermath has already sparked a lawsuit with three passengers suing Boeing and Alaska Airlines for $1 billion in damages over alleged negligence.