Three Passengers File Class Action Lawsuit Against Alaska Airlines for Alleged Breach of Passenger Safety

Three passengers have filed a class action lawsuit against Alaska Airlines, alleging that the airline breached passenger safety when an off-duty pilot allegedly activated the plane’s emergency engine shutdown system.

The lawsuit, filed in King County Superior Court in Washington state on Thursday, was brought by San Francisco residents Matthew Doland and Theresa Stelter and Paul Stephen of Kenmore, Washington. The three passengers allege that they have suffered emotional distress, including “nausea on later flights, insomnia, anxiety, and flashbacks of the incident,” as a result of the incident.

The incident occurred last month when the off-duty pilot, Joseph […], was allegedly trying to shut down the engines of a plane while catching a ride in the cockpit from Washington state to San Francisco. The lawsuit claims that the pilot should never have been allowed in the cockpit due to his reported depression and lack of sleep.

The pilots and flight attendants operating Flight 2059 responded quickly to the incident and ensured the safety of all passengers. However, the three passengers are now suing Alaska Airlines for the emotional distress they have suffered as a result of the incident.

Alaska Airlines has not yet commented on the lawsuit. The case is ongoing and the outcome is yet to be determined.