In response to a reported incident involving a LATAM Airlines flight and the subsequent investigation into an unexpected cockpit seat movement, Boeing has issued a recommendation for airlines to inspect the motorized cockpit seats during routine maintenance on their 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Boeing's directive includes instructions on how to disable the motors responsible for seat movement.
Boeing emphasized that this advisory is a precautionary measure and did not directly attribute it to the incident on the LATAM Airlines flight. However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that Boeing's memo was issued in response to the incident on LATAM Flight 800. The FAA announced plans to assemble a panel of experts to review Boeing's communication to airlines regarding this matter.
The incident on the LATAM Airlines flight involved a sudden plunge, resulting in injuries to approximately 50 passengers. Witnesses described passengers being thrown from their seats and into the cabin ceiling and aisles. Despite the incident, the plane landed safely at Auckland Airport as scheduled.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a widely used aircraft for long international flights, with leading airlines such as United Airlines and American Airlines among its primary users. While American Airlines stated that Boeing's instructions would not affect its operations, United Airlines declined to comment on the matter.
Preliminary findings reported by The Wall Street Journal suggested that the incident was caused by a flight attendant accidentally activating a switch on a cockpit seat, pushing the pilot into the controls and causing the plane's nose to dip. Boeing recommended airlines ensure that such switches are securely covered and provided guidance on how to deactivate the seat motor.
Chile's aviation regulator is leading the investigation into the incident, and its findings are awaited. This incident may increase scrutiny on Boeing, which has faced heightened scrutiny since a panel detached from an Alaska Airlines 737 Max earlier in the year. Investigations by the FAA, the National Transportation Safety Board, and the Justice Department are ongoing concerning this previous incident and Boeing's manufacturing of Max jets.
