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LATAM Airlines Flight 800

LATAM Airlines Flight 800 was a scheduled international passenger flight from Sydney Airport in Australia to Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in Santiago, Chile, with a stopover at Auckland Airport, New Zealand. On 11 March 2024, around two hours into the first leg of the flight, the Boeing 787-9 operating the flight experienced an in-flight upset and dropped suddenly. Of the 272 people onboard, 50 were injured, with 12 taken to the hospital after landing in Auckland.[1][2][3][4][5]

LATAM Airlines Flight 800
The aircraft involved in the accident pictured in 2023
Accident
Date11 March 2024
SummaryIn-flight upset; under investigation
SiteTasman Sea, west of Auckland, New Zealand
Aircraft
Aircraft typeBoeing 787-9
OperatorLATAM Airlines
IATA flight No.LA800
ICAO flight No.LAN800
Call signLAN CHILE 800
RegistrationCC-BGG
Flight originSydney Kingsford Smith Airport, Sydney, Australia
StopoverAuckland Airport, Auckland, New Zealand
DestinationArturo Merino Benítez International Airport, Santiago, Chile
Occupants272
Passengers263
Crew9
Fatalities0
Injuries50
Survivors272

Aircraft edit

The aircraft was a Boeing 787-9, registration CC-BGG. It was delivered to LAN Airlines in December 2015.[6]

The aircraft had operated the outbound flight, LA801, from Santiago to Sydney via Auckland.[7] After the incident, the onward leg to Santiago was cancelled. The aircraft remained in Auckland until 14 March, when it returned to Santiago.[8]

Incident edit

LATAM Airlines Flight 800 departed from Sydney Airport at 11:44 AEDT (00:44 UTC), climbing to cruise at flight level 410 (approximately 41,000 ft or 12,500 m).[7][4]

While the flight was over the Tasman Sea, around two hours into the flight and one hour away from Auckland, the aircraft dropped suddenly. In a few seconds, the plane lost over 300 ft (90 m) of altitude. People and objects that were not restrained were thrown upwards, with around 30 to 40 people hitting the ceiling of the cabin, damaging multiple ceiling panels.[9][10] One person said it felt "like an earthquake", and one passenger recalled being thrown back four to five seat rows.[11]

The aircraft continued to Auckland as scheduled, landing at 16:26 NZDT (03:26 UTC).[7] Medical staff boarded the plane at Auckland Airport and treated the wounded, tending to 50 people, with reports of cuts and bruises, head and neck injuries, and broken bones. Twelve people were transported to hospital, including one person in a serious condition.[12] Four people were still hospitalised as of 14 March 2024.[8]

Investigation edit

As the incident occurred on a Chilean-registered aircraft over international waters, the Chilean Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) is responsible for investigating the incident, and began an inquiry on 12 March 2024. The New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) is assisting in the inquiry. The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from the aircraft were recovered by the TAIC, but their contents have not yet been released.[13]

A passenger reported a pilot told them after landing that the instruments in the cockpit went blank when the plane fell, then came back online a few seconds later.[14][15][16] It has also been reported that the inadvertent movement of a pilot's seat possibly caused the incident. A flight attendant could somehow have activated a covered rocker switch on the back of the pilot's seat. If the cover was loose, pressing on it would be enough to activate the switch underneath when it otherwise normally wouldn't have. The activation of this switch would have slowly moved the seat forward into the control yoke, resulting in the nose down attitude, disengaging the autopilot, according to US industry officials.[17]

Preliminary report edit

On 19 April, the DGAC released their preliminary report regarding the accident. The investigation has so far proven that the captain's seat had involuntarily moved forward and that weather was not a factor.[18]

Reactions edit

Boeing responded to the incident by stating "We are working to gather more information about the flight and will provide any support needed by our customers". The accident followed Boeing's increased criticisms for multiple in-flight problems on their aircraft.[19]

LATAM apologized for the incident, stating "We regret 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".[20]

The FAA responded to the incident in an undisclosed message, and in return Boeing released a statement regarding the flight, quoting "Based on the FAA audit, our quality stand downs and the recent expert panel report, we continue to implement immediate changes and develop a comprehensive action plan to strengthen safety and quality, and build the confidence of our customers and their passengers".[21]

In response to the report of an issue with a seat switch being the likely cause of the accident, Boeing issued a memo reminding that airlines inspect the cockpit chairs of 787 aircraft for loose switches. Boeing warned that closing a seat back switch cover onto a loose rocker switch could "potentially jam the rocker switch, resulting in unintended seat movement".[22][23]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Zhuang, Zan; Frost, Natasha (11 March 2024). "'Strong Movement' on Flight to New Zealand Leaves Dozens Injured". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Fifty hurt as NZ-bound flight hit by 'technical' issue". BBC. 11 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  3. ^ Visontay, Elias; Corlett, Eva (12 March 2024). "'Felt like an earthquake': passengers recall moment of terror on Latam flight as investigation launched". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Accident: LATAM Chile B789 over Tasman Sea on Mar 11th 2024, upset injures 12". The Aviation Herald. 12 March 2024 [2024-03-11]. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Accident Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner CC-BGG". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  6. ^ "CC-BGG LATAM AIRLINES CHILE BOEING 787-9 DREAMLINER". www.planespotters.net. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  7. ^ a b c "Live Flight Tracker – Real-Time Flight Tracker Map". Flightradar24. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Four still in hospital as focus of investigation into plummeting Latam flight revealed". www.stuff.co.nz. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  9. ^ "New details from Sydney-Auckland LATAM flight revealed". Nine News. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  10. ^ "LATAM pilot told those on board 'he temporarily lost control of Boeing 787'". The Independent. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  11. ^ Leff, Gary (11 March 2024). "'A Rollercoaster Nosedive in the Sky': Passengers Hit Ceiling On LATAM Flight 800 from Sydney to Auckland". View from the Wing. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  12. ^ "LATAM Airlines Sydney to Auckland flight: 50 people treated after mid-air incident". RNZ. 11 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  13. ^ Visontay, Elias; Corlett, Eva (11 March 2024). "Cockpit and flight data gathered as investigation launched into Latam mid-air plane drop". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  14. ^ "Passenger on Boeing flight that suddenly dropped says pilot told him he lost control after instrument failure". CNN. 12 March 2024.
  15. ^ "What happened on Latam flight LA800 that threw passengers around the cabin?". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  16. ^ "Four still in hospital as focus of investigation into plummeting Latam flight revealed". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  17. ^ Nerkar, Santul; Ember, Sydney (15 March 2024). "Boeing Directs Airlines to Check Cockpit Seats on 787s After Latam Incident". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  18. ^ https://www.dgac.gob.cl/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SUCESO-DE-AVIACION-N%C2%B02052-24-V.2.pdf
  19. ^ Timsit, Annabelle; Masih, Niha; Bellware, Kim (11 March 2024). "50 people injured after plane's 'nosedive' on flight to New Zealand". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  20. ^ Dubé, Ryan; Hoyle, Rhiannon. "Incident on Latam Flight Injures Dozens Aboard Boeing 787 Dreamliner". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  21. ^ Goldman, David (12 March 2024). "Boeing is in big trouble". CNN. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  22. ^ Jones, Callum (15 March 2024). "Boeing cockpit seat switch mishap reportedly led to Latam flight incident". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  23. ^ "Boeing rappelle aux compagnies d'inspecter des boutons de cockpit des 787 Dreamliners". Franceinfo. 16 March 2024.
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