Boeing has issued a recommendation for airlines to conduct inspections on the motorized cockpit seats of its 787 Dreamliner jets.
This advisory comes following a report that suggested an unintended movement of a pilot’s seat may have contributed to a LATAM Airlines aircraft’s abrupt descent during a flight from Australia to New Zealand.
The aircraft manufacturer advises that these inspections be carried out during the next scheduled maintenance of the 787s, providing guidance on how to deactivate the motors responsible for adjusting the seats.
Boeing has termed this advisory a “precautionary measure” and did not explicitly connect its recommendation to the incident involving the LATAM Airlines flight.
FAA Responds to Boeing's Memo with Expert Panel Review
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that Boeing’s memo was a direct response to the “incident on LATAM Flight 800.” The FAA announced it would assemble a panel of specialists to evaluate Boeing’s communication to its airline customers.
Chile-based LATAM Airlines initially described the incident as “a technical event during the flight which caused a strong movement.” Subsequently, the airline updated its statement to note that the aircraft “experienced a strong shake during flight, the cause of which is currently under investigation.”
Passengers Experience Severe Turbulence, Injuries Reported
Passenger accounts from the flight detailed a sudden drop that resulted in individuals not secured by seatbelts being propelled from their seats to the cabin ceiling and aisles. Despite the incident, the Dreamliner successfully completed its landing at Auckland Airport as planned.
Emergency services in Auckland reported approximately 50 injuries as a result of the event.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner: Features and Capacity
The Boeing 787, a twin-aisle aircraft launched in 2011, is predominantly utilized for lengthy international routes. The model involved in the LATAM incident has a capacity to transport up to around 300 passengers.
United Airlines and American Airlines, owning 71 and 59 Dreamliners respectively, are among the primary operators of this aircraft model. In response to Boeing’s advisory, American Airlines indicated that the manufacturer’s instructions would not affect its flight operations, whereas United Airlines chose not to comment.