The investigation into a mid-air plunge on a LATAM flight from Sydney to Auckland that hospitalised 12 people is now focused on the pilot’s chair, according to an aviation industry sources.
At least 50 people were hurt when the March 11 Boeing 787 flight dropped abruptly mid-air, with passengers claiming some people hit the ceiling.
Authorities have already seized the flight’s black boxes, and Boeing has pledged to investigate the matter.
LATAM said the incident was caused by a “technical issue”.
It’s believed the seat may have moved, triggering the drop.
Investigators are also reportedly looking at a potential electrical short, but The Air Current’s sources said passenger claims that a pilot had said the control panel “blacked out” were not a main focus.
The seat movement, The Air Current said, was thought to be “pilot induced”, but not “intentional”.
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It’s not known precisely, how the seat movement may have triggered the drop, but The Air Current reported that Boeing 787-9s had “a large yoke or control wheel” in front of the pilot seats.
