Boeing Issues Memo To Airlines After Plane Takes an Accidental Plunge

19.03.2024 - 19:00 / travelpulse.com / Laurie Baratti / Airlines

Following last week’s incident, in which a LATAM Airlines suddenly plunged downward in mid-flight, major aircraft manufacturer Boeing is advising airlines to inspect switches on cockpit seats aboard their 787 Dreamliner planes as a precautionary measure. According to AP News, a published report pointed to these switches as the apparent cause of last week’s incident. 

Although Boeing did not link this memo to what happened aboard LATAM Flight 800, bound from Australia to New Zealand, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that the advisory was issued in response to the terrifying incident and that the agency was putting together a panel of experts to review the manufacturer’s message to airlines.

Chile-based LATAM Airlines initially described the incident as “a technical event during the flight which caused a strong movement”, saying in a later update that the aircraft, “experienced a strong shake during flight, the cause of which is currently under investigation.”

Passengers onboard reported being thrown from their seats and into the cabin ceiling and aisles when the Dreamliner suddenly dropped without warning. Emergency crews in Auckland reported approximately 50 injuries as a result of the incident.

First introduced in 2011, the 787 Dreamliner is primarily used for long international flights and the model involved in the LATAM incident can accommodate up to approximately 300 passengers. Leading U.S. carriers, like United Airlines and American Airlines, operate a significant number of these aircraft as part of their long-haul fleets. However, American Airlines indicated that Boeing's recommendation would not impact its operations, while United Airlines issued no comment at all.

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, preliminary findings from the investigation have suggested that a flight attendant serving a meal in the cockpit inadvertently hit a switch on the back of the seat, causing the pilot to be pushed into the controls, which caused the plane to plunge downward. 

Boeing's recommendation to airlines includes checking the switches to ensure they are securely covered, as they should not be used during flights, and providing instructions on how to deactivate the seat motor.

Meanwhile, Chile's aviation regulator has dispatched investigators to New Zealand to lead the investigation into the incident, in accordance with international protocols. The investigation has yet to release any official findings. 

This latest in-air accident may heighten the scrutiny that Boeing already finds itself under, as the FAA, the National Transportation Safety Board and the Justice Department continue to conduct their own individual probes into January’s mishap involving an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9