‘Technical incident’ causes turbulence on Sydney-Auckland flight, 50 injured

‘Technical incident’ causes turmoil on LATAM flight from Sydney to Auckland (representative)

Wellington:

Thirteen passengers were hospitalized on Monday after a “technical incident” caused severe turbulence on a LATAM Airlines flight from Sydney to Auckland, the airline and emergency personnel told AFP.

Chile-based LATAM Airlines said flight LA800 “suffered a technical incident during the flight, resulting in strong shaking. The aircraft landed at Auckland Airport as scheduled.”

Gerard Campbell of St John Ambulance New Zealand said paramedics were alerted to an incident at the airport and 13 patients had been taken by ambulance to local hospitals.

“We were notified at 3.58pm and five ambulances responded,” he said.

“Our ambulance crews evaluated and treated approximately 50 patients, including one patient who was in serious condition and the remaining patients who were in moderate to mild condition,” Campbell said.

LATAM “deeply regrets any inconvenience and discomfort this situation may cause,” the airline said.

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