Latest news with #Boeing737MAX
Reuters
22 minutes ago
- Business
- Reuters
Boeing sued by flight attendants over MAX 9 mid-air panel blowout
Aug 1 (Reuters) - Four flight attendants on the Alaska Airlines (ALK.N), opens new tab 737 MAX 9 plane that experienced a mid-air cabin panel blowout in January last year are suing Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab for physical and emotional injuries. In separate lawsuits, they are seeking compensation for past and future economic damages, citing physical and mental injuries, emotional distress and other financial costs. "Each of the four flight attendants acted courageously, following their training and putting their passengers' safety first while fearing for their lives," Tracy Brammeier, the attorney representing each of the plaintiffs, said. "They deserve to be wholly compensated for this life-altering traumatic experience." Boeing declined to comment, while Alaska Airlines did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment. The lawsuits were filed on Tuesday in Seattle's King County Superior Court and accuse Boeing of negligence and failure to exercise reasonable care in the production, sale and repair of 737 MAX jets and its parts. "Boeing knew or should have known of the quality control issues present in its production of the 737 MAX line of aircraft," the filings said. The incident sparked a crisis for the planemaker and prompted the U.S. Justice Department to open a criminal investigation into the company and declare that Boeing was not in compliance with a 2021 deferred prosecution agreement. Last month, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Boeing had failed to provide adequate training, guidance and oversight to prevent the incident. The board criticized Boeing's safety culture and its failure to install four key bolts in the panel during production, and accused the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of ineffective oversight.
Reuters
3 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Flight attendants sue Boeing over MAX 9 panel blowout incident, paper says
July 31 (Reuters) - Four flight attendants on the Alaska Airlines (ALK.N), opens new tab 737 MAX 9 plane hit by a mid-air cabin panel blowout in January last year are suing Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab for physical and psychological injuries, the Seattle Times said on Thursday. In separate lawsuits seeking compensation for past and future economic damages, they cited physical and mental injuries, emotional distress and other financial costs related to the incident, the newspaper added. "Each of the four flight attendants acted courageously, following their training and putting their passengers' safety first while fearing for their lives," it cited lawyer Tracy Brammeier, who is representing them, as saying. "They deserve to be wholly compensated for this life-altering traumatic experience." The lawsuits, filed on Tuesday in Seattle's King County Superior Court, accused Boeing of product liability for delivering a plane that was unsafe to operate and for negligence in manufacturing practices, the paper said. Boeing declined to comment, while Alaska Airlines and Brammeier did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment. Last month, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Boeing failed to provide adequate training, guidance and oversight to prevent the incident. The board criticized Boeing's safety culture and its failure to install four key bolts in a new Alaska Airlines MAX 9 during production, as well as ineffective oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Newsweek
21 hours ago
- General
- Newsweek
Plane Passengers Prioritizing Their Luggage in Firey Flight Emergency Sparks Fury
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A viral video of an American Airlines flight evacuation is drawing sharp condemnation online after several passengers were seen retrieving their luggage amid a fire emergency. The clip, first shared in a Reddit thread by user emoemokade, shows chaotic scenes as flight attendants (FAs) attempt to guide travelers off the aircraft while smoke fills the cabin, reportedly from an overheated laptop battery. Yet, despite urgent calls to evacuate, numerous passengers fumble with overhead compartments, refusing to leave their carry-ons behind. Newsweek has reached out to American Airlines for comment. In response to an invitation to comment from Newsweek, the Foundation for Aviation Safety identified the clip as being recorded during the emergency evacuation of an American Airlines 737 MAX airplane in Denver. There was a fire in the landing gear and smoke entered the airplane, the non-profit organization told Newsweek. Stock image: Passengers standing in the aisle of a plane. Stock image: Passengers standing in the aisle of a plane. iStock / Getty Images Plus 'Tragedy waiting to happen' Ed Pierson, the foundation's executive director, said that Boeing 737 MAX airplanes have been having "lots of problems" with landing gear issues, such as brake clips cracking and low pressure in the tires. "We believe this is a tragedy waiting to happen and just one of over 30 serious defects in MAX airplanes that we have been tracking and reporting," Pierson said. "Boeing and the [Federal Aviation Administration] should be required to explain what they are doing to fix each of these defects and the public should be monitoring progress." The director said that emergency evacuations can happen for a wide variety of reason. Unfortunately, despite receiving detailed briefings by FAs on how to calmly evacuate, some passengers may panic and act irrationally, like stopping to grab their luggage or trying to go against the flow of people exiting the plane, risking the safety of others trying to get out, he said. 'How would you react?' "It is easy for people to criticize these bad decisions, but you have to ask yourself how would you react if you were sitting in your seat, the plane just aborted takeoff and you were now dealing with people yelling, smoke, saw flames and knew you were standing on tanks containing jet fuel? "Hopefully you and your fellow passengers would stay calm and move swiftly during the evacuation." 'Pay the price' Observers denounced the behavior seen in the video and called for penalties amid more than 3,300 comments on Reddit within two days. "People are going to die before they start following rules," a critic warned, while another called for accountability: "That German family deserves to be banned by that airline for five years. They refused to comply. "Doesn't matter if the battery was out, they ignored the FAs. They held up other passengers. They should pay the price." The incident echoes earlier concerns about deteriorating behavior in flight cabins. As reported by Newsweek, another viral video showed a young passenger on a domestic U.S. flight darting up the aisle to the galley while the plane was still taxiing. "The [flight attendants] were completely stunned—like, full buffering mode," wrote Reddit user gynot44, who witnessed the scene. "My 6-year-old nephew knows not to stand up while the plane is taxiing... I have to chalk this up to entitled and just not caring." The Foundation for Aviation Safety went on to tell Newsweek that the FAA is not doing enough to protect ground evacuations. The administration does not have regulations on minimum seat pitch, meaning the distance between rows of seats, or the width of the seats, according to Executive Director Pierson. "Instead, the FAA relies on an outdated 90-second evacuation standard that has been widely criticized because it doesn't reflect realistic evacuation scenarios, or the current passenger population," Pierson continued. "Many airlines have reduced seat pitch and width over the past few decades, while passengers, on average, have become larger. We believe shrinking seats can hinder emergency evacuations, increasing the risk of injuries and fatalities." 'Challenge the public' Pierson said that, "perhaps the FAA could challenge the public into coming up with a design for a locking mechanism that could be retrofitted to airplanes that would allow the pilots and flight attendants to automatically lock all storage bins. Then people wouldn't have the option." Newsweek has contacted emoemokade for comment via Reddit, as well as American Airlines for comment. Newsweek's "What Should I Do?" offers expert advice to readers. If you have a personal dilemma, let us know via life@ We can ask experts for advice on relationships, family, friends, money and work, and your story could be featured on WSID at Newsweek. To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, click here.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Pacific News In Brief For 29 July
Palau - refugees A proposal from the United States to temporarily host asylum seekers in Palau has been met with resistance in the country's National Congress. The Pacific Island Times reported the proposal, presented on 18 July, sought Palau's agreement to temporarily host people who were seeking asylum in the United States but cannot be returned to their country of origin. Just one day after the proposal was presented, the leaders of both houses of the Olbiil Era Kelulau, or Senate, sent a joint letter to President Surangel Whipps Jr advising him not to proceed. The letter said while Palau is a strong US ally, it cannot afford to overpromise or commit to something it cannot fulfill. The Council of Chiefs, which advises the president and includes traditional leaders from Palau's 16 states, has echoed the congressional stance. Palau does not have a legal framework on accommodating asylum seekers or refugees. Tonga - travel Allegations have been made of excessive travel spending by Tongan politicians. Former Cabinet Minister Etuate Lavulavu, who also operates a newspaper, sayid he has evidence that one minister received up to $5 million Tongan pa'anga, another received $2m, and a third received $1m in their travel packages. Kaniva Tonga reported Lavulavu expressed concern not only about the alleged spending of taxpayers' money, but also about the financial struggles many people are facing. Deputy Prime Minister Taniela Fusimālohi said the government's travel budget has often doubled or exceeded the allocated amount, as shown in official budget documents. Papua New Guinea - transparency Transparency International Papua New Guinea (TIPNG) has welcomed the government signing a United Nations Transparency Pledge. The UN Convention Against Corruption's Transparency Pledge is a voluntary commitment to meet minimum standards of transparency. PNG signed it earlier this month in Vienna. TIPNG helped develop the pledge and its chairman, Peter Aitsi, said by signing PNG is committing to continuing to include civil society in implementing and reviewing the country's progress on meeting its international obligations to address corruption. He said this commitment builds on previous collaboration between Government and civil society. Tonga - arrest The US Department of Justice has announced the arrest of an American missionary to Tonga. The accused was indicted by a federal grand jury on 16 July, on charges related to the exploitation of minors outside the United States. According to court documents, the man traveled to Tonga for his mission with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and while there, he allegedly sexually abused minor boys. Homeland Security Investigations and the Diplomatic Security Service are investigating the case, with the help of Tonga Police and the Tongan Department of Public Prosecutions. Fiji - aerobridge A Fiji Airways Boeing 737 MAX was damaged by an aerobridge at Brisbane's International Airport on Saturday. The Brisbane Times reported that an aerobridge - the enclosed walkway which allows passengers into the plane - smashed into the cockpit's left-hand windscreen after the aircraft arrived from Nadi late at night. All pasengers safely disembarked via the forward stairs. A month ago, a Qantas Boeing 737 was damaged in similar circumstances at Brisbane International Airport, two months after an Air New Zealand Boeing 777 struck an aerobridge as it was being pushed back on the tarmac. Papua New Guinea - mining Investors in Japan have been invited to Papua New Guinea to explore mining opportunities. The National newspaper reported 'OK Tedi Mining Limited' CEO Kedi Ilimbit saying at a seminar in Japan that this marks a new chapter in PNG's relationship with the country. Prime Minister James Marape was also at the event. The agenda included talks on PNG's so-called untapped mining and infrastructure along with social impacts and inclusive growth.
Khaleej Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
DAE announces purchase, leaseback agreement with United for 10 Boeing 737-9 aircraft
Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) on Monday announced that it has signed a purchase agreement with United Airlines for 10 new Boeing 737-9 aircraft and entered into long-term leases for these aircraft delivering between August 2025 and February 2026. The 737‑9 is a member of the Boeing 737 MAX family, designed to deliver enhanced efficiency, improved environmental performance, and increased passenger comfort to the single-aisle market. Firoz Tarapore, chief executive officer of DAE, commented, 'Today's announcement of the purchase-lease back agreement of 10 Boeing 737-9 aircraft follows our recent acquisition of an Airbus A321neo on lease to United, and reflects our continued commitment to the North American market. We congratulate United on their continued success and look forward to further strengthening our partnership in the years ahead.' The aeroplane family reduces fuel use and emissions by 20 per cent compared to jets it replaces. DAE currently owns, manages, and is committed to own or manage a total of 750 aircraft, including 225 from Boeing, with plans to further expand its fleet to meet growing market demand.
