A LATAM Airlines flight from Sydney to Auckland took a terrifying turn on Tuesday when the plane suddenly lost altitude mid-flight, causing injuries to dozens of passengers. The incident occurred on flight LA800, with passengers describing a harrowing experience as the aircraft dropped violently, flinging unrestrained travelers out of their seats and into the cabin roof.
Emergency crews treated approximately 50 patients following the incident, with four individuals remaining hospitalized. LATAM Airlines is currently working with authorities to determine the cause of the “technical event” that led to the sudden drop in altitude.
The Chilean General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics and New Zealand air safety investigators will be leading the probe into the incident. Experts have suggested that the incident may have been an ultra-rare “black swan event,” with possible causes including autopilot malfunction or clear-air turbulence.
The incident comes at a challenging time for Boeing, the US manufacturer of the aircraft involved in the incident. The company has faced a series of safety issues in recent years, including the grounding of the 737 MAX fleet following two fatal crashes. In response to these concerns, US regulators have given Boeing 90 days to address quality control issues. As a result, Boeing’s share price has dropped by 25 percent since the beginning of the year.
Passengers on the LATAM Airlines flight are left shaken by the experience, while authorities and investigators work to determine the cause of the incident and prevent future occurrences.
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