New Zealand

US authority adopts safety directive for Boeing after Auckland flight

11:28 am on 20 August 2024

Photo: Marika Khabazi

The US Federal Aviation Administration said it was adopting an airworthiness directive for Boeing 787 Dreamliners following an incident in March when a LATAM Airlines plane went into a sudden mid-air dive that injured more than 50 passengers.

People were injured after a 'technical issue' on board a LATAM Airlines flight from Sydney to Auckland sent passengers flying through the cabin. Photo: Supplied/Brian Jokat

The FAA said the apparent reason for the dive was the uncommanded movement of the captain's seat, which caused the auto-pilot to disconnect. The agency said it had received a total of five reports of similar problems with the captain and first officer's seats on 787s, the most recent in June.

The FAA said airlines flying Boeing's 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 airplanes should inspect the seat switches.

Boeing and LATAM Airlines did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

- Reuters