Alaska Airlines Receives Initial Payment of $160M From Boeing for Midair Incident

By Thea Felicity

Apr 05, 2024 10:44 AM EDT

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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 25: An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 taxis at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on March 25, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. A mid-air door plug blowout on an Alaska Airlines flight and subsequent grounding of flights precipitated a management shakeup at Boeing as CEO David Calhoun announced his resignation..
(Photo : Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)

In response to the midair door blowout incident reported by VCPost, Boeing has taken a step forward by providing Alaska Airlines with an "initial payment" of roughly $160 million to address the financial repercussions. 

According to NYPost, his payment comes after Alaska Airlines, the operator of the Boeing aircraft during the incident, reported a substantial loss of approximately $160 million in pretax profit during the first quarter of the year. The losses mainly stem from various factors, including lost revenues, costs associated with irregular operations, and expenses incurred to restore the affected fleet to operational status. 

The severity of the incident, which occurred at 16,000 feet, prompted Alaska Airlines to describe it as "terrifying" in a regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

READ NEXT: FAA Issues 90-Day Ultimatum to Boeing: Quality Control Overhaul Demanded After 737 Max Door Mishap

How Much Does Boeing Owes Alaska Airlines Due to The Accident?

However, while this initial payment can help resolve the financial fallout from the incident, it is just the beginning of the compensation process. 

Boeing has indicated that it is expected to offer additional compensation to Alaska Airlines in the future, although details regarding the timing and amount of further payments remain undisclosed. 

Besides, the fallout from the midair door blowout incident has not been limited to financial losses for Alaska Airlines and Boeing. The incident has also prompted broader concerns within the aviation industry regarding safety and quality control measures. Following the incident, VCPost reported that Boeing faced heightened scrutiny from regulatory authorities, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which imposed stringent deadlines and requirements on the aircraft manufacturer.

Boeing is now under pressure to develop a comprehensive action plan to address systemic quality-control issues, with the FAA setting a deadline of May 28th. 

READ MORE: Alaska Airlines Passengers in Boeing's Door Plug Blowout Incident Could be Crime Victims, FBI Says

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