SEATTLE, Washington: An Alaska Airlines pilot is suing Boeing because he believes the plane mak wrongly tried to blame him and the rest of the crew, even when they landed a jet safely after a door plug panel flew off.

Heads of the National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration, and Boeing executives commended Captain Brandon Fisher for ensuring the safety of all 177 people aboard flight 1282 after the blowout happened in January 2024.

Fisher's lawyers say that despite the NTSB's findings, Boeing tried to shift blame in earlier lawsuits, which led some passengers to sue the pilot and cause him severe distress. Fisher's lawsuit says Boeing claimed it wasn't responsible and blamed it on improper maintenance or misuse by others.

"It was clear Boeing's words were directed at Captain Fisher in an attempt to paint him as the scapegoat for Boeing's numerous failures," Fisher's lawyers, William Walsh and Richard Mummolo, wrote in the lawsuit filed in an Oregon court.

The NTSB investigation found that four bolts holding the door plug panel were removed during repairs and never reinstalled during the Boeing 737 Max 9's construction. Both Boeing and its leading supplier, Spirit AeroSystems, which Boeing later bought, were linked to the problem.

The bolts are hidden behind the plane's interior panels, so the pilot or airline staff could not have easily checked them before the flight. Investigators said the door plug slowly moved upward over 154 flights before it finally blew out.

Fisher's lawyers said Boeing's false claims angered Captain Fisher because he was being blamed instead of praised. To him, that felt like a personal betrayal, since he had flown Boeing planes his entire career at Alaska Airlines.

The NTSB said clearly that this was a manufacturing problem and that the crew acted very well. Aviation safety expert John Cox said the crew did an excellent job in a challenging situation, and no one has blamed them.

"I think Boeing's lawyers were reaching for excuses," Cox said.

Blowout Occurred Minutes after Takeoff.

The blowout happened minutes after takeoff from Portland, Oregon, creating a loud rush of air. Seven passengers and one flight attendant had minor injuries, but the plane landed safely.

A piece of the plane's body, about 2 feet by 4 feet, covering an unused emergency exit behind the left wing, blew off. Only seven seats were empty on the flight, including the two closest to the opening.

Boeing factory workers told investigators they were pushed to work too fast and were sometimes asked to do jobs they were not trained to do.

Fisher's lawsuit says he and the first officer acted quickly after the cabin lost pressure and safely flew the plane back to Portland, while lowering altitude and working with air traffic control to avoid other planes.

The airline did not say whether Fisher is still flying, but the lawsuit describes him as a respected member of the aviation community. It was unclear whether he was still working as a pilot.

At the time, Boeing executive Stan Deal praised the Alaska Airlines crew in a message to employees for safely landing the plane.

Boeing did not comment directly on the lawsuit. However, CEO Kelly Ortberg has said improving safety is his top priority since taking over in August 2024.

The FAA fined Boeing US$3.1 million for safety violations found after the incident. In October, the agency allowed Boeing to raise 737 Max production to 42 planes a month after inspectors were satisfied with safety improvements.

Alaska Airlines also did not comment on the lawsuit, but said it remains thankful to the crew for their bravery and quick action in keeping everyone safe on Flight 1282.