In a bizarre turn of events, a mishap involving a cockpit seat has been cited as the cause behind a harrowing incident aboard a Boeing Co. 787 aircraft en route to New Zealand this week, leaving 50 passengers injured, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, citing knowledgeable US officials. Allegedly, a flight attendant, in the midst of serving a meal on the Latam flight, inadvertently activated a switch on the seat, thrusting the pilot forward and subsequently causing the aircraft’s abrupt descent by pushing its nose downward—a detail shared by the newspaper. Notably, this switch, equipped with a protective cover, is not intended to be engaged if a person occupies the seat.
The flight, originating from Sydney and bound for Auckland on Monday, experienced a sudden loss of altitude that jolted passengers, including an infant, upward into the cabin ceiling, as recounted in various media reports. Although fortunate that no severe injuries were reported, seven passengers and three crew members required medical attention upon the plane’s arrival in Auckland.
Boeing, responding to the incident, assured the WSJ of its cooperation with Latam Airlines Group SA in the investigation and expressed readiness to offer assistance. Furthermore, there are indications that the US aerospace manufacturer might issue a memorandum regarding the seat switch to airlines operating the widely used 787 Dreamliner, as per the newspaper’s information.