Fifty injured as Latam flight experiences sudden altitude drop
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Fifty individuals sustained injuries during a Latam Airlines Boeing 787-9 flight from Sydney to Auckland, as the aircraft encountered a technical issue leading to an abrupt mid-air drop.
According to a report in Forbes, the incident resulted in "strong movement" inside the plane, causing some passengers and crew members to be "thrown into the roof." Ten of the injured, including seven passengers and three crew members, were hospitalized in serious condition.
The LA800 flight landed safely in Auckland at 4:26 pm local time, according to FlightAware.
Latam Airlines acknowledged the technical event, causing the strong movement, but did not provide details about the nature of the issue.
A passenger named Jacinto described the incident as a "mid-air drop," where people were thrown through the cabin, resulting in numerous injuries, particularly among those not wearing seatbelts at the time. Another passenger, Valentina, mentioned that the plane "just stopped," leading to people flying around, with blood observed on the ceiling, and some passengers breaking through the plane's ceiling.
Latam Airlines, Chile's flagship carrier, frequently makes stops in Auckland on its route to Santiago. Boeing has faced scrutiny over recent malfunctions on its planes, including a door blowing out on a Boeing 737-9 at 16,000 feet.