SEATTLE, Washington: More than a year after a door panel ripped off a Boeing 737 MAX 9 mid-flight, four flight attendants who were aboard the Alaska Airlines jet are suing the plane maker, alleging physical and psychological harm caused by the incident.

The lawsuits, filed this week in Seattle's King County Superior Court, accuse Boeing of product liability and negligence, the Seattle Times reported. The attendants are seeking compensation for past and future damages related to emotional trauma, injuries, and financial costs.

"Each of the four flight attendants acted courageously, following their training and putting their passengers' safety first while fearing for their lives," said attorney Tracy Brammeier, who is representing them. "They deserve to be wholly compensated for this life-altering, traumatic experience."

The mid-air incident occurred in January 2023, when a cabin panel on an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 separated during flight. This triggered an emergency landing and renewed scrutiny of Boeing's safety protocols.

The lawsuits claim the aircraft was delivered in an unsafe condition due to negligent manufacturing practices. Boeing declined to comment on the lawsuits, and representatives for Alaska Airlines and Brammeier did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.

Last month, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report on the incident, faulting Boeing for failing to install four critical bolts in the affected door plug during assembly.

The NTSB also criticized Boeing's safety culture and a lack of adequate oversight from the Federal Aviation Administration, saying the company failed to provide sufficient training and guidance to prevent such failures.