Boeing Tells Pilots to Check Seats After Plane Drops: Ongoing Investigation into Latam Flight Incident

In a startling incident, a Latam Airlines flight experienced a sudden mid-flight drop, injuring approximately 50 people. The incident has prompted Boeing to issue a safety advisory to airlines operating its 787 Dreamliner jet.  This is to direct pilots to inspect their seats during routine maintenance checks.

The Latam Flight Incident

The affected flight was carrying 263 passengers and nine cabin crew members. It was en route from Sydney to Auckland when it encountered this “technical event.” Passengers reported that the plane “suddenly dropped,” causing unrestrained individuals to hit the cabin ceiling and aisles. Emergency crews in Auckland treated around 50 people for mostly mild injuries upon landing.

Boeing’s Safety Advisory

Boeing’s safety advisory focuses on inspecting switches on pilots’ seats within its 787 Dreamliner fleet. The company recommends that airlines perform these inspections during routine maintenance. The advisory emphasizes disabling motors that move the seats as a precautionary measure. However, Boeing acknowledges that the investigation into the specific cause of the incident is ongoing. Hence submitting to investigating authorities for potential findings.

Preliminary Findings and Cockpit Seat Movement

According to anonymous U.S. industry officials briefed on preliminary findings, a flight attendant serving a meal in the cockpit accidentally hit a switch on the back of a seat. This action pushed the pilot into the controls, resulting in the sudden nose-down movement of the plane. The incident has raised scrutiny for Boeing, which has faced heightened attention since a separate incident involving an Alaska Airlines 737 Max earlier this year.

The Way Forward

As investigators delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding the Latam flight incident, questions remain about the precise sequence of events and contributing factors. Safety experts emphasize the need for a thorough investigation to understand the cocktail of factors that led to this alarming mid-flight drop.

Boeing’s safety advisory serves as a proactive step to prevent similar incidents in the future, ensuring the well-being of passengers and crew aboard its Dreamliner aircraft.