Boeing asks airlines to inspect pilot seats after turbulent flight injures 50 people

Boeing Co. is asking airlines to check switches on the pilot seats of its 787 Dreamliners after a published report said unexpected cockpit seat movement may have caused a LATAM Airlines plane bound for New Zealand to suddenly crash.

Boeing said on Friday it recommended airlines inspect power cockpit seats the next time their 787s undergo maintenance. The aircraft manufacturer pointed to instructions that include how to disable the motor that moves the seat.

The company describes its advice as a “precautionary measure.” It did not link the memo to what happened on a LATAM Airlines flight between Australia and New Zealand this week.

However, the FAA stated that Boeing issued the memo “in response to the LATAM Flight 800 incident.” The FAA said it was convening a panel of experts to review Boeing’s messaging to airlines.

Chile-based airline LATAM initially said a “technical incident occurred during the flight, resulting in strong movement”. The airline said in an update on Tuesday that the aircraft “experienced severe vibrations during flight and the cause is currently being investigated.”

Passengers reported that people who were not wearing seat belts were thrown from their seats onto the cabin ceiling and into the aisles as the Dreamliner crashed without warning. The plane then landed at Auckland Airport as scheduled.

About 50 people were injured, according to Oakland first responders.

The 787 is a two-aisle aircraft that debuted in 2011 and is primarily used on long-haul international flights. The version involved in LATAM flights can carry up to about 300 passengers.

United Airlines, which has 71 Dreamliners, and American Airlines, which has 59 Dreamliners, are among the main users of the aircraft. American Airlines said Boeing’s order would have no impact on its operations. Manchester United declined to comment.

The Wall Street Journal reported late Thursday that a flight attendant serving meals in the cockpit pressed a switch on the seatback, pushing the pilot into the 787’s controls, pushing the plane’s nose down. . The newspaper quoted anonymous U.S. industry officials as saying they were aware of the preliminary findings of the investigation.

Boeing recommended that airlines check to make sure the switches are securely covered – they should not be used during flight – and tell them how to turn off power to the seat motors, the newspaper said.

Chile’s aviation regulator has sent investigators to New Zealand and will lead the investigation in line with international protocols. It has not yet released any findings.

The incident is likely to intensify scrutiny of Beoing, which is already at a high level since a panel exploded on an Alaska Airlines 737 Max aircraft over Oregon in January. The FAA, National Transportation Safety Board and Justice Department are conducting separate investigations into the blowout and the manufacturing of Boeing Max jets.