The Wall Street Journal reported unnamed US industry officials as saying the mishap may have occurred when a flight attendant serving a meal hit a switch on the pilot’s seat that pushed the pilot into the controls.
A Latam Airlines Boeing 787 at Auckland Airport. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Boeing sent an advisory on Thursday to airlines operating 787 Dreamliners that “included instructions for inspecting and maintaining [cockpit seat] switches”, The Wall Street Journal also reported.
Boeing didn’t comment on the investigation into Latam’s LA800 flight.
But it said it took “the precautionary measure of reminding 787 operators of a service bulletin issued in 2017 which included instructions for inspecting and maintaining switches on flight deck seats”, The Guardianreported.
“We are recommending operators perform an inspection at the next maintenance opportunity.”
An ambulance leaves Auckland International Airport after a number of passengers were injured during a flight from Sydney to Auckland. Photo / Dean Purcell
Crew on Latam Airlines LA800 were finishing clearing up after lunch and were two-thirds of the way through the three-hour Sydney-Auckland flight on Monday when all hell broke loose.
The pilots managed to regain control and safely land at Auckland Airport.
In a move praised by passengers, a pilot later walked through the cabin – by then strewn with casualties bleeding and wearing neck braces, while others around them were in tears.
The earlier theory that an instrument blackout caused pilots to momentarily lose control of the plane, which was travelling at about 960km/h, was first aired after a conversation with a passenger.
For a time, it was one of a growing number of theories put forward.
LATAM airline 2
Latam is South America’s biggest airline, with a fleet of more than 400 planes across the group and last year made a $900 million profit.
It had said little about the incident by Friday afternoon.
It did issue a 92-word statement on Monday, when it acknowledged the plane had “a technical problem during the flight which caused a strong movement”.
Through its Australian PR agency, the airline said “some passengers and cabin crew were affected”.
“Latam regrets the inconvenience and injury this situation may have caused its passengers, and reiterates its commitment to safety as a priority within the framework of its operational standards,” the statement said.
Passengers at Auckland International Airport waiting to check in for a replacement Air Latam flight to Chile following a terrifying flight from Sydney to Auckland. Photo / Dean Purcell
It doesn’t have a base here so the lack of support for the walking wounded who didn’t need hospital treatment and other traumatised passengers was inevitable as contracted ground handlers would have been deployed.
Burger vouchers issued at the airport while accommodation was sorted aggravated a bad situation.
The Direccion General de Aeronautica Civil (DGAC) is leading the inquiry under the International Convention on Aviation.
The National Transportation Safety Board in the United States could become involved as that’s the base of Boeing, which is facing other safety investigations into its troubled 737 Max programme.
Like Latam, Boeing is saying little about the incident despite repeated inquiries.
“We are thinking of the passengers and crew from Latam Airlines flight 800, and we commend everyone involved in the response effort. We are in contact with our customer, and Boeing stands ready to support investigation-related activities as requested,” the Chicago-headquartered firm said.
Grant Bradley has been working at the Herald since 1993. He is the Business Herald’s deputy editor and covers aviation and tourism.
