Boeing Advises Airlines to Inspect 787 Cockpit Seats After Cause of LATAM Airlines’ Mid-Air Drop Is Revealed

• LATAM Airlines Flight LA800 experienced a sudden crash during a flight to Auckland, New Zealand from Sydney, Australia on Monday
• The cause of the fall of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner in the air is allegedly that the flight attendant accidentally pressed a switch on the pilot’s seat in the cockpit
• Boeing issued a memo to all 787 operators to inspect their aircraft because the switch should be covered

Boeing sent a reminder to all 787 operators after LATAM airlines flight LA800 experienced a serious mid-air crash on Monday during a flight to New Zealand from Australia.

The sudden plunge was allegedly caused by a flight attendant who accidentally pressed a switch on the pilot’s seat while serving a meal in the cockpit, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Then a motorized feature was activated that pushed the pilot’s seat forward, causing the pilot to hit the steering wheel that pointed the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner’s nose down, toward the exit.

After the incident, Boeing issued a memorandum to all 787 operators because the switch is intended to be covered whenever the seat is occupied.

In a statement shared with PEOPLE, Boeing says, “We have taken precautionary measures and reminded 787 operators of a service bulletin issued in 2017 that included instructions for inspecting and maintaining cockpit seat switches.”

They add that the investigation of the flight is ongoing, and that “we recommend to the operators an inspection during the next maintenance.”

LATAM Airlines declined PEOPLE’s request for comment until the investigation is complete.

50 injured after the flight experienced a ‘strong’ fall in the air: ‘People were flying’

A LATAM Airlines plane is flying in the air.

Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty

The plane was heading to Auckland from Sydney when it experienced “strong shaking” mid-flight, the Chilean airline said in a press release.

After the plane landed safely at Auckland Airport at around 16:26, Hato Hone St John EMS rushed to the scene.

The organization confirmed to PEOPLE in a statement that their “emergency crew evaluated and treated approximately 50 patients.” While most of the injuries were “moderate to minor”, they said one passenger was left “in a serious condition”.

A total of 14 Hato Hone St John units responded, including “seven ambulances, two operations managers, two Major Incident Support Team vehicles, one command unit and two rapid response vehicles.”

People ‘knocked off 4 or 5 aisles’ after flight experiences mid-air crash, passenger says

Auckland Airport.

Bradley White/Getty

Passenger Brian Jokat, 61, recalled the terrifying experience to NBC News after the incident.

– Everything went in the best order – said Jokat. “Then suddenly the plane dived.” He added: “People were flying out of their seats, hitting the roof, being thrown back four or five aisles.”

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There were a total of 263 passengers and nine members of the flight and cabin crew on the flight. LATAM Airlines confirmed to PEOPLE that 10 passengers and 3 cabin crew members were taken to Middlemore Hospital after Hato Hone St John treated the injured.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education