Fifty passengers have been injured on a LATAM 787 operating from Sydney to Auckland when the aircraft suffered a significant flight upset.
Of the 50, 13 were taken to hospital with one in a serious condition.
From Flightradar24 data it appears the 787 encountered two events – the worst just before the descent into Auckland when the aircraft’s ground speed rose dramatically from 433kts to 604kts the aircraft’s altitude dropped 25ft.
This is typically a wind shear event which is a sudden change in wind direction or movement however the fact that there were two events with sharp decreases and increases in speeds indicates a technical malfunction. (See yellow line above)
LATAM Airlines, a Chilean carrier, told Channel 9 that the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner had a technical problem which caused a “strong movement”.
“As a result of the incident, some passengers and cabin crew were affected,” the airline said in a statement.
“LATAM regrets the inconvenience and injury this situation may have caused its passengers, and reiterates its commitment to safety as a priority within the framework of its operational standards.”
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