DOJ Launches Criminal Investigation into Boeing 737 Max and Alaska Airlines Incidents

The Department of Justice is conducting a criminal investigation into the mid-exit door plug blowout on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9 MAX, prompting scrutiny of Boeing's production and quality control. The investigation will assess Boeing's compliance with a 2021 settlement related to previous deadly crashes. The National Transportation Safety Board attributed the blowout to missing bolts, and Boeing has admitted to a lack of documentation on the repair. The DOJ's inquiry is separate from the NTSB's investigation, and Boeing faces renewed scrutiny over its safety management practices and FAA compliance.