Alaska Airlines pilot sues Boeing for $10 million, says crew was blamed

Brandon Fisher filed a $10 million lawsuit in Oregon alleging Boeing tried to shift blame onto the flight crew after a midflight panel loss; the NTSB reported the aircraft left Boeing's facility missing bolts that would have secured the door plug.

The captain of an Alaska Airlines flight that lost a panel midflight has filed a civil suit in Oregon. The complaint, brought by Brandon Fisher, seeks $10 million and says Boeing attempted to cast blame on the flight crew. The National Transportation Safety Board reported the airplane left Boeing's factory missing bolts that would have secured the door plug. Spirit AeroSystems is named in the suit, and the report notes Boeing completed acquisition of most of Spirit in December. Key facts: - Brandon Fisher filed the lawsuit in Oregon seeking $10 million and alleges emotional distress from the incident and subsequent statements. - The suit names Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems as defendants and says Boeing denied liability in related litigation while attributing issues to others. - The NTSB reported missing bolts and incomplete documentation at Boeing's facility related to the door plug work. - The legal case is pending and Boeing declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation. Summary: The lawsuit frames the episode as a manufacturing and communications dispute that has legal and personal consequences for the pilot. Undetermined at this time.