New Zealand’s aviation authority has said it would seize the cockpit voice and flight data recorders from the Sydney to Auckland flight on which 50 people were injured after it “froze” in mid-air, as passengers criticised Latam Airlines for a lack of communication following the incident.
The Boeing 787 carrying 263 passengers and nine crew from Sydney to Auckland abruptly dropped during the flight on Monday, sending passengers flying and leaving several bleeding and with broken bones.
Fifty people had to be treated by ambulance crews upon arrival in Auckland with 13 requiring hospital treatment. Four people had to stay in hospital for a second night on Tuesday, according to the New Zealand Herald.
Passengers recounted seeing people with blood streaming from their heads, while some reported broken arms, shoulders and ribs. The injured passengers were from Brazil, France, Australia, Chile and New Zealand.
Brian Adam Jokat, a Canadian citizen who lives in the UK, told Reuters he was shocked to see a person in the seat next to him thrown up in the air.
“My neighbour who was in the seat two over from me, there was a gap in between us, as soon as I woke I looked and he was on the ceiling and I thought I was dreaming,” he said.
Another woman told the Herald: “I used to be a flight attendant and this is the first time I’ve ever … the whole plane just froze.”
New Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) said on Tuesday the accident occurred in international airspace and Chile’s Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (DGAC) had opened an investigation. The TAIC is working to assist the inquiry, including gathering the so-called “black boxes” that reveal the flight’s trajectory and communication between pilots.
Latam, which is based in Chile, said it would assist authorities investigating what caused the “strong movement” on the flight. It sent an email to passengers expressing “sincere apologies for the situation” and offering to reimburse them for any expenses.
“We are committed, and it is our top priority to assist all our passengers. We want to assure you that we are here to support you,” it said, according to the New Zealand Herald.
“If you have not received access to accommodations, food, ground transportation, or if you incurred any other expense as a result of this situation, we ask that you please provide us with the documentation associated with these expenses for the reimbursement review process,” the email said.
However, it is understood the company did not offer a refund for the flight and passengers said they were given a single McDonald’s cheeseburger after the ordeal.
Clara Azevedo, a 28-year-old from Brisbane in Australia, said the plane went into “free fall” until the pilot managed to regain control. She said the airline had not offered her any help and she spent the night in hospital translating for a 68-year-old woman who broke two ribs.
“We are all traumatised, and we had to find strength to help people out. But this is not our responsibility, it is Latam’s – but they haven’t done anything. That’s very frustrating,” she told the New Zealand Herald.
Latam has been contacted for comment.
More than 300 passengers due to fly with the airline from Auckland to Santiago, Chile on Tuesday spoke of their anxiety about travelling after the unexplained incident.
“I popped my head out to look back and it looked like people had been through war,” said Colombian citizen Larry Reef about the flight on Monday. He was due to board Tuesday night’s flight and said he was worried but “had to get back on the horse”.
“Fingers crossed lightning doesn’t strike twice,” he said.
The incident comes as Boeing faces questions over its 737 series in recent years. In January, it came under intense scrutiny after an unused cabin door on one of its 737s was blown off at 16,000 ft. On Monday, the company hit headlines after a former employee turned whistleblower was found dead in the US.
Guy Gratton, associate professor of aviation and the environment at Cranfield University, told i that Monday’s accident was still a “surprise”.
“There is a particular history with the Boeing 737 Max family of aircraft, that’s a completely different aircraft design albeit from the same company,” he said.
“The Boeing 787 has a great safety track record, so there’s nothing that makes you look at this and say, ‘Oh, no, not another one. This is a very surprising accident,” he said, adding that the incident could have been down to the weather, technical failure of the aircraft or mishandling by the crew.
With agencies
