:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/DAM66K77FRFXXHEHNKPGZTNDSI.jpg "One of the greatest experts in aviation safety analyzed the incident on the Latam plane with 272 people on board: “It could have been catastrophic”")
A leading aviation safety expert has warned that the incident on board the LATAM Airlines flight LA800 could have had catastrophic consequences if not quickly identified. The former Inspector General of the United States Department of Transportation, Mary Schiavo, stated that the situation, in which the aircraft lost all instruments and control, could have resulted in a “catastrophic loss of airplane and life.”
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, carrying 263 passengers and 9 crew members, experienced a rapid loss of altitude during its flight from Sydney to Auckland, causing 50 injuries to passengers who were not wearing seat belts. The plane fell approximately 100 meters in just three seconds before the pilots were able to regain control.
Aviation experts believe that a technical problem is the likely cause of the incident, and the investigation is underway to determine the exact factors at play. The black boxes of the aircraft will provide crucial information, and authorities from Chile, New Zealand, and the United States, as well as LATAM Airlines and Boeing, are expected to participate in the investigation.
Boeing, which has faced safety issues in recent years including the fatal crashes of 737 MAX planes, has stated its willingness to cooperate in the investigation. The company is still recovering from a recent incident involving a Boeing 737 MAX 9 fuselage panel that burst mid-flight, leading to a criminal investigation by the United States.
The investigation into the LATAM incident is expected to provide important insights into the safety of Boeing Dreamliners and could potentially lead to the grounding of other aircraft if a widespread technical issue is identified.