The airline on Tuesday attributed the accident to an unspecified “technical incident.” (document)
New York:
Boeing on Friday warned airlines flying its 787 Dreamliners to check certain switches in the cockpit after a LATAM plane bound for New Zealand violently crashed mid-flight, injuring dozens of passengers.
“The investigation into Flight LA800 is ongoing and we will listen to any potential findings from the investigating authorities,” the US aviation giant said in a statement.
“We have taken the precautionary step of reminding 787 operators of a service bulletin issued in 2017 that included instructions for inspecting and maintaining cockpit seat switches,” Boeing said, adding, “We recommend that operators inspect and maintain cockpit seat switches at the next maintenance opportunity. Check”.
Boeing regularly sends advice to customers about its aircraft. But this time it involves a particularly dangerous incident.
On Monday, a Chilean LATAM airliner was flying from Sydney, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand when the plane suddenly plummeted to the ground, throwing unrestrained passengers from their seats and causing some of them to hit the roof of the cabin.
50 people were injured, 13 of whom were hospitalized.
The airline on Tuesday attributed the accident to an unspecified “technical incident.”
But the Wall Street Journal on Friday cited U.S. industry sources as saying the incident was due to clumsiness on the part of a crew member.
It is alleged that a flight attendant while serving a meal inadvertently hit a switch on the pilot’s seat, causing a maneuver to push the pilot toward the controls and push the plane’s nose sharply downward.
It is said that the switch is usually covered and should not be used by pilots while seated.
AFP contacted LATAM in Chile, but LATAM declined to comment, saying an investigation was ongoing. “From the outset we have worked with the authorities to clarify this matter,” it added.
Boeing also declined to comment.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it was convening a Corrective Action Review Board (CARB) of safety experts to study the matter “and provide feedback to Boeing.”
“This process will include a review of the 2017 service bulletin related to the pilot seat switch,” it added.
Boeing has faced a series of safety issues in recent years, including fatal 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed more than 350 people and a near-catastrophic incident involving an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 fuselage panel in January. accident. The jet exploded mid-flight.
Last week, a Boeing 777 jet bound for Japan had a wheel come off and crash into an airport parking lot shortly after taking off from San Francisco, damaging several cars and forcing it to make an emergency landing.
U.S. regulators earlier this month gave Boeing 90 days to develop a plan to address quality control issues, and the head of the Federal Aviation Administration said the company must “commit to real and profound improvements.”
Boeing shares have fallen 25% since the beginning of the year.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
