FAA Mandates Inspections of Boeing 787 Following LATAM Airlines Midair Dive

Background of the Incident

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has mandated essential inspections for certain models of the Boeing 787 following a critical incident involving a LATAM Airlines flight. This midair dive, which occurred in March, raised substantial safety concerns.

Details of the Airworthiness Directive

• The FAA issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD) specifically for the Boeing 787-8, 9, and -10 variants.
• This AD requires operators to inspect both the Captain’s and First Officer’s seats for any missing or damaged rocker switch caps within a code timeframe of 30 days.
• Operators must also conduct corrective measures if required.

Passenger Experiences

A passenger from the LATAM flight shared alarming details of the experience, stating:

“The plane, unannounced, just dropped. I mean it dropped unlike anything I’ve ever experienced on any kind of minor turbulence.”

Reports indicated that at least 50 individuals sustained injuries during this sudden descent, with accounts of people striking the aircraft's ceiling and sustaining head injuries.

Response from Boeing and LATAM

The FAA's decision followed findings suggesting that unintended motion from cockpit seats played a significant role in the incident. In response, Boeing fully supports the FAA directive, aligning with supplier advisories to enhance airworthiness standards.