Captain Brandon Fisher, the pilot who safely landed an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 after a door plug blew out mid-flight in January 2024, has filed a $10 million lawsuit against Boeing. According to People, the captain alleges that the aircraft manufacturer attempted to shift blame for the near-catastrophic incident onto him. The lawsuit, filed in Oregon on December 30, 2025, claims Boeing tried to make Fisher a “scapegoat” for what was later determined to be a manufacturing defect.
The Hill reports that Fisher and First Officer Emily Wiprud successfully executed an emergency landing after the plane experienced sudden depressurization at approximately 16,000 feet when a door plug tore off shortly after takeoff from Portland, Oregon. The incident, which put 171 passengers and six crew members at risk, could have ended in tragedy if not for what Fisher’s lawsuit describes as “heroism and immense display of composure under pressure” by the flight crew who managed to return the aircraft to Portland safely.
Boeing’s Legal Defense Strategy Becomes Center Of Controversy
The lawsuit specifically cites Boeing’s legal response to a class-action filed by passengers in March 2024. Per court documents, Boeing denied liability, stating that its products were “improperly maintained or misused by persons and/or entities other than Boeing,” a claim Fisher’s attorneys argue was deliberately aimed at making their client the fall guy for Boeing’s manufacturing failures.
“Boeing knew this statement was false at the time it was made, but made it anyway as part of its often-used post-accident strategy to blame pilots for incidents caused solely by its own actions,” the lawsuit alleges. Fisher’s legal team argues that “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.”
NTSB Investigation Reveals Manufacturing Failures At Boeing
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concluded in June 2025 that “multiple system failures” by Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) led to the door plug blowout incident. Investigators determined the aircraft left Boeing’s factory missing critical bolts that should have secured the door plug in place.
According to preliminary findings, the fuselage arrived from supplier Spirit AeroSystems with damaged rivets. Boeing workers subsequently removed the plug to address those rivets but failed to reinstall the bolts. This critical work was never properly logged or inspected before the aircraft entered commercial service. Spirit AeroSystems, which Boeing has since largely acquired to tighten control of its supply chain, is also named as a defendant in Fisher’s lawsuit.
Pilot’s Claims Of Emotional Distress
Fisher’s lawsuit alleges he suffered severe emotional distress as a result of Boeing’s statements, claiming they “dramatically exacerbated the life-changing impacts” of the incident. The lawsuit also makes the notable claim that the FBI informed Fisher he may have been the victim of criminally negligent conduct by Boeing.
Boeing told reporters the company continues to implement a “comprehensive safety and quality plan” developed with employee feedback and regulatory oversight.
“In the past two years, we’ve taken a disciplined look at every facet of our production operations,” a Boeing spokesperson told FOX Business. While not commenting directly to Fox Business about the lawsuit, Alaska Airlines expressed continued gratitude to the Flight 1282 crew members for their “bravery and quick thinking” that ensured the safety of everyone aboard.
