FAA orders inspection of Boeing 787 after LATAM aircraft plunges
The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has ordered Boeing 787 operators to conduct inspections on their aircraft due to a possible problem with the cover that covers the latch that keeps the pilot’s seat in place.
The requirement comes five months after an incident involving a LATAM Airlines 787 Dreamliner injured 50 people on board after a sudden dive.
Flight LA800 had taken off from Sydney bound for Santiago, Chile when it experienced a “strong movement” that threw passengers and crew into the air and damaged the main cabin.
Investigations revealed that one of the pilots’ seats ended up coming loose and moving forward, which caused the control stick to be pushed and the plane to descend unexpectedly.
According to reports, the latch that holds the seat in place was accidentally removed by a flight attendant.
The jet had to make an emergency landing in Auckland, New Zealand, to treat the injured.
The FAA’s airworthiness directive covers 158 U.S. aircraft and another 737 worldwide. The inspection calls for cracked or missing rocker switch covers within the next 30 days.
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