Boeing tells airlines to check 787 cockpit switches after Latam plane plunge
- The company urged airlines operating 787 Dreamliners to inspect flight deck switches after a sudden mid-air dive by a Latam plane left dozens injured
- US regulators have given Boeing 90 days to come up with a plan addressing quality control issues
“The investigation of Flight LA800 is ongoing and we defer to the investigation authorities on any potential findings,” a statement from the US aeronautics giant said.
“We have taken the precautionary measure of reminding 787 operators of a service bulletin issued in 2017 which included instructions for inspecting and maintaining switches on flight deck seats,” Boeing said, adding, “We are recommending operators perform an inspection at the next maintenance opportunity.”
Boeing regularly sends recommendations about its planes to its clients. But this one involved a particularly dangerous incident.
The Chilean airlines Latam was flying Monday from Sydney, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand, when the plane suddenly plunged earthward, flinging unrestrained passengers out of their seats and smashing some into the cabin roof.
Fifty people were injured, including 13 who were hospitalised.