The unusual mishap in the cabin between a stewardess and the pilot that would have caused the sudden descent of the Latam flight

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The flight attendant would have activated the pilot’s automatic seat by pushing him towards the control panel.

(From Santiago, Chile) The possible cause of the serious incident of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner that was flying between Chile and New Zealand, and which experienced a sudden fall of about 100 meters, resulting in 50 injured passengers, was finally revealed.

According to sources from the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal, a flight attendant could have activated a switch in the captain’s seat while serving food to the pilots.

This triggered an automatic motorized function that pushed the pilot’s seat, causing him to press the joystick, US researchers explained based on preliminary information collected.

This function, which is used to place the seat into the stowed position, is not designed to be used with the pilot sitting in it, however, the investigation concludes that the pilot may have been sitting with his legs crossed on the seat.

A Latam spokesperson indicated that the company “is collaborating with authorities to advance the investigation of the incident,” but refrained from commenting on these preliminary reports until their conclusion. Likewise, the Latam pilots union and the Latam cabin crew union declined to comment.

The accident left 50 injured, although it could have been much more serious.

Only Boeing, the plane’s manufacturer, briefly stated that “we are in contact with our customer (Latam). “Boeing is prepared to assist in any activities related to the investigation as requested.”

Latam’s Boeing 787 had 263 passengers and 9 crew members on board when it made an emergency landing on Monday at 4:26 p.m. local time (01:26 a.m. Chile) at Auckland Airport, in New Zealand, after that the plane suddenly fell in mid-flight.

“A stewardess who was in the cockpit to serve them food rested her elbow on the cover of the switch that electrically moves the seat to put it away. The seat proceeded to move forward, pushing the captain against the joystick as he was apparently sitting cross-legged. Pressing the lever disengaged the autopilot (AP) and initiated a brief nosedive,” the incident report describes.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the findings coincide with a manual that Boeing will distribute on the seat switch of the 787 Dreamliner. In addition, the trade publication Air Current previously published a report that the investigation was focusing on an unexpected movement of the pilot’s seat.

“A representative of the safety board assured that the first information indicates that the movement of the seat was ’caused by the pilot, although not intentionally,’ highlights Air Current, while another member pointed out that ‘the movement of the seat caused the nose of the plane descended suddenly”, without having at that time details of how the displacement occurred.