A LATAM Airlines flight from Sydney to Auckland experienced a sudden loss of altitude and severe turbulence on Monday, March 11, 2024, resulting in injuries to numerous passengers and crew members, according to multiple news reports.
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, registered CC-BGG, was operating flight LA-800 from Sydney, Australia, to Auckland, New Zealand, when the incident occurred over the Tasman Sea, approximately 50 minutes before landing in Auckland.
According to The Aviation Herald, the aircraft encountered an “upset” while cruising at an altitude of 41,000 feet, causing injuries to 12 people on board. The airline reported that the aircraft experienced a “technical incident causing strong movement.”
Passengers recounted a “sudden dive” that caused them to feel weightless, with objects and individuals not secured hitting the cabin ceiling. One passenger, Brian Jokat, told the BBC that the plane “just dropped” without any prior turbulence, throwing people out of their seats and into the ceiling, resulting in injuries and blood on the cabin roof.
A Reuters report cited a LATAM spokesperson stating that 10 passengers and three cabin crew members were taken to a hospital, while the New Zealand emergency service organization Hato Hone St John treated approximately 50 people at the airport. One person was reported to be in serious condition, while others suffered mild to moderate injuries.
The New Zealand Herald quoted a passenger, Priscilla Waller-Subritzky, who said she witnessed “a number of passengers and crew” being “thrown into the roof of the plane” during the incident. Another passenger, Daniel, described a “dramatic” nose dive that caused around 30 people to hit the ceiling hard.
LATAM Airlines acknowledged the incident and expressed regret for any inconvenience or discomfort caused to its passengers. The airline stated that a connecting flight to Santiago, Chile, scheduled for the following day, would accommodate affected passengers, who were also provided with food and accommodation services.
Investigations into the cause of the incident are underway, with Boeing and aviation authorities pledging their support. The captain reportedly told passengers that they had briefly lost instrumentation before it suddenly returned.
Boeing said it is providing any support to the airline in support of the investigation.
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