Around 50 passengers were injured, with one in serious condition, after a LATAM Airlines flight from Sydney to Auckland encountered severe turbulence, causing a sudden drop in altitude. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner was en route to Santiago, Chile, with an immediate investigation launched to determine the causes of the incident.
Approximately 50 passengers were injured during a LATAM Airlines flight from Sydney to Auckland after the plane encountered a mid-air technical event described as a “strong movement,” leading to a sudden drop in altitude. This incident occurred onboard a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which was on its journey to Santiago, Chile, but had scheduled to land in Auckland. The event led to 12 passengers being hospitalized, with one in serious condition. Reports from passengers highlighted the severity of the turbulence, with some describing scenes of people being thrown from their seats and hitting the plane’s roof, causing injuries and damage within the aircraft’s cabin.
Upon the flight’s arrival in Auckland, emergency response teams, including ambulances and medical personnel, were ready on the tarmac to provide immediate assistance to the injured passengers and crew members. LATAM Airlines issued a statement acknowledging the incident and emphasizing the company’s priority on the safety of its passengers and crew.
The recent turbulence event has spotlighted the risks associated with air travel, invoking memories of similar incidents in the past, including severe turbulence on an Emirates flight last December that injured 14 passengers and a Bonza Aviation flight that resulted in cabin crew hospitalization.
This occurrence has prompted an investigation to determine the specific causes behind the sudden altitude drop and has temporarily affected Boeing’s stock performance, with shares dropping about 4% in US morning trading following the news. Boeing has committed to assisting in the investigation to understand more about the incident.
