The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the near-miss involving an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-8 Max in early January. Alaska Airlines said Saturday that it is cooperating with the investigation and does not expect to be the target of the investigation. In such a situation, it is normal for the Ministry of Justice to get involved. The Wall Street Journal previously reported that investigators questioned some passengers and crew members. In the incident with an almost new Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-8 Max, a piece of the fuselage came loose shortly after take-off near row 26. The more than 170 passengers on board mostly escaped unscathed. According to experts, by a happy coincidence, the two seats near the hole in the fuselage had remained empty. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concludes, after initial investigations, that four mounting bolts on the fuselage section were completely missing. There are indications that the part continued to move upwards until it broke off during the 154th flight, says NTSB director Jennifer Homendy. (Photo for illustration purposes. Photo: Shutterstock).
