At least 50 people injured on Boeing 787 as LATAM plane suffers ‘sudden drop & freezes’ while on flight from Australia
FIFTY people were injured onboard a Boeing plane when it “dropped” mid-flight, with 13 rushed to hospital.
One passenger on the flight from Sydney to Auckland, which suddenly “froze”, has been left in serious condition.
A host of emergency vehicles raced to Auckland Airport after passengers and crew were injured in the bizarre incident.
One woman onboard said she felt a “quick little drop” during the flight.
She told the New Zealand Herald: “I used to be a flight attendant and this is the first time I’ve ever … the whole plane just froze”.
And she said “at least” five people were whisked away by paramedics waiting on the tarmac.
LATAM airlines admitted a “strong movement” was caused during the journey after a “technical problem”.
The LA800 flight took place on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on Monday.
Boeing has found itself at the centre of increasingly concerning reports in recent months thanks to malfunctions on its planes.
Just yesterday a criminal investigation was launched to investigate how one of Boeing’s jet doors was blown out at 16,000ft.
St John’s Ambulance said: “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.
“So far, 13 patients have been transported to Middlemore Hospital by ambulance.”
Firefighters and four ambulances were among the host of emergency services who rushed to treat the injured.
Earlier St John’s said: “We were notified at 3.58pm and are currently on scene with four ambulances, two operations managers, one Major Incident Support Team vehicle, one Command Unit, and two rapid response vehicles.”
A LATAM spokesperson said: “The plane landed at Auckland Airport as scheduled.
“As a result of the incident, some passengers and cabin crew were affected.
“They received immediate assistance and were evaluated or treated by medical staff at the airport as needed.”
LATAM added that it “regrets the inconvenience and injury this situation may have caused its passengers, and reiterates its commitment to safety as a priority within the framework of its operational standards”.