By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation has informed passengers who had been on an Alaska Airways Boeing (NYSE:) 737 MAX 9 that suffered a Jan. 5 mid-air emergency that they could be victims of against the law, in keeping with letters seen by Reuters.

The letters, a procedural step in some felony investigations by the Justice Division, are an indication that its probe into the MAX 9 emergency is transferring ahead.

The letters, dated Tuesday, say the FBI has recognized the passengers “as a potential sufferer of against the law. This case is presently below investigation by the FBI. …A felony investigation generally is a prolonged endeavor, and, for a number of causes, we can not let you know about its progress presently.”

The letters had been earlier reported by the Seattle Occasions.

An FBI spokesperson in Seattle declined to remark, citing Justice Division coverage that it “doesn’t verify or deny the existence of an investigation.”

The Justice Division in 2022 up to date its tips for notifying victims of potential crimes after kin of among the 346 folks killed in two Boeing 737 MAX 8 crashes in 2018 and 2019 stated their authorized rights had been violated when the division struck a January 2021 deferred prosecution cope with Boeing with out notifying them.

The division additionally apologized for not assembly with kin of the crash victims earlier than the announcement of the deal which capped a 21-month investigation into the design and improvement of the 737 MAX 8.

Boeing declined to touch upon Friday however stated this month stated it might proceed to cooperate totally and transparently with all authorities investigations.

Alaska Airways stated it was totally cooperating with the investigation and doesn’t consider it’s the goal of the probe.

Within the midair emergency, a door plug panel tore off from the facet of the MAX 9 jet at 16,000 ft, leaving a refrigerator-sized, rectangular gap within the plane. The airplane landed safely with all 171 passengers and 6 crew on board. Seven passengers and one flight attendant had minor accidents.

The Nationwide Transportation Security Board has stated 4 key bolts gave the impression to be lacking from the airplane that had been delivered by Boeing months earlier. Boeing has stated it believes required paperwork detailing the removing of the bolts had been by no means created.

Within the aftermath of the incident, the FAA grounded the MAX 9 for a number of weeks, barred Boeing from rising the MAX manufacturing charge and ordered it to develop a complete plan to handle “systemic quality-control points” inside 90 days.