Economy

mahatmakanejeeves

(57,461 posts) Fri Mar 15, 2024, 08:46 AM Mar 15

Pilot-Seat Blunder Led to Latam Mid-Air Plunge, WSJ Reports

Hat tip, Joe.My.God.

“Cockpit Mishap” Blamed For Airliner’s Nosedive
March 15, 2024 Technology, Travel

The Insider reports:

Monday’s Latam Airlines incident might have been caused by a flight attendant accidentally hitting a switch in the cockpit, The Wall Street Journal reported. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was flying from Sydney to Auckland when it suddenly dropped.

50 people were treated by paramedics, of whom 12 were sent to the hospital, the New Zealand Herald reported.

While serving a meal, a flight attendant hit a switch on the pilot’s seat, the officials told the Journal. This then turned on a feature that pushed the pilot and his seat forward toward the controls, which pointed the plane’s nose down, they added.

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Business

Pilot-Seat Blunder Led to Latam Mid-Air Plunge, WSJ Reports

Plane was en-route to Auckland when the incident occured
Seven passengers, three crew were hospitalized after plunge

By Angus Whitley
March 14, 2024 at 7:23 PM EDT
Updated on March 14, 2024 at 11:45 PM EDT

A mishap with a cockpit seat may have thrust the pilot into the controls of a Boeing Co. 787 plane flying to New Zealand this week, triggering the sudden plunge that injured 50 passengers, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing US officials familiar with the investigation.

A flight attendant serving a meal on the Latam flight hit a switch on the seat, propelling the pilot forward and pushing down the aircraft’s nose, the newspaper said. According to the report, the switch is fitted with a cover and isn’t meant to be pressed if a person is in the seat.

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