Trouble mid-flight: Another Boeing incident amid federal scrutiny

LAUREN TAYLOR

MONDAY BROUGHT A HARROWING EXPERIENCE FOR PASSENGERS ABOARD A LATAM AIRLINES FLIGHT FROM SYDNEY TO AUCKLAND. THE FLIGHT, OPERATED ON A BOEING 787 DREAMLINER, ENCOUNTERED UNEXPECTED SEVERE TURBULENCE, INJURING AT LEAST 50 PASSENGERS. DESPITE THE ABRUPT MID-FLIGHT DROP — THE AIRCRAFT MANAGED TO LAND SAFELY AT AUCKLAND AIRPORT.

LATAM AIRLINES HAS CHARACTERIZED THE INCIDENT AS A ‘TECHNICAL EVENT’ THAT CAUSED SIGNIFICANT MOVEMENT DURING THE FLIGHT. ONE INDIVIDUAL IS REPORTED TO BE IN SERIOUS CONDITION, WITH OTHERS SUFFERING FROM MILD TO MODERATE INJURIES. PASSENGERS DESCRIBED THE INCIDENT AS CHAOTIC. SOME WERE THROWN FROM THEIR SEATS, WITH A FEW HITTING THE CABIN CEILING.

EMERGENCY SERVICES WERE ON HAND TO TREAT THE INJURED AT THE AIRPORT. THE CAUSE OF THE FLIGHT’S SUDDEN CHANGE IN TRAJECTORY REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

THIS EVENT RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT AIRCRAFT SAFETY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PREPAREDNESS FOR UNEXPECTED MID-AIR INCIDENTS. RECENTLY, BOEING HAS FACED CHALLENGES, INCLUDING ISSUES WITH MISDRILLED HOLES, LOOSE RUDDER BOLTS, AND A DOOR-PLUG BLOWOUT ON AN ALASKA AIRLINES MAX 9 IN JANUARY.

THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS NOW INVESTIGATING THE DOOR-PLUG INCIDENT TO SEE IF BOEING FOLLOWED THROUGH ON ITS PROMISE FROM EARLIER INVESTIGATIONS INTO TWO FATAL CRASHES IN 2018 AND 2019. IF BOEING DIDN’T KEEP UP WITH THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AGREED UPON IN 2021, THEY COULD FACE LEGAL CONSEQUENCES.