WELLINGTON: Twelve passengers were hospitalised Monday after a technical problem on a LATAM flight from Sydney to Auckland caused the Boeing-made plan...
: Twelve passengers were hospitalised Monday after a technical problem on a LATAM flight from Sydney to Auckland caused the Boeing-made plane to dip violently, the airline and first responders told AFP.
“People flew through the air because they weren’t wearing their seatbelts” a passenger told public broadcaster RNZ. “The plane landed at Auckland Airport as scheduled,“ the airline said, adding it “deeply regrets any inconvenience and discomfort this situation may have caused”.“We are working to gather more information about the flight and will provide any support needed by our customer,“ Boeing said in a statement sent to AFP.
“Our ambulance crews assessed and treated approximately 50 patients, with one patient in a serious condition and the remainder in a moderate to minor condition,“ Campbell said.At least three of those treated were cabin crew.Brian Jokat, who was on board the flight, said he saw another passenger hit the roof of the plane before falling back down and breaking his ribs on an arm rest.
US plane-maker Boeing has suffered a series of safety issues in recent years, including fatal Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines crashes of 737 MAX planes.