Incident Investigation Underway as New Zealand Seizes Black Boxes from LATAM Boeing 787
In the aftermath of a harrowing incident on a LATAM Airlines Boeing 787, New Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has taken swift action by seizing both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder. The incident, which occurred during a Sydney-Auckland flight on Monday, resulted in more than 50 people sustaining injuries.
Eyewitness accounts from passengers painted a vivid picture of the mid-air ordeal. Brian Adam Jokat, a Canadian citizen residing in the UK and a passenger on the flight, described the sudden drop, recalling, “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.”
Photographs taken by Jokat revealed damage to the aircraft’s ceiling, where passengers had reportedly impacted during the unsettling episode. The TAIC reported that Chilean authorities have initiated an investigation into the incident, with New Zealand providing assistance in the inquiry.
As the incident unfolded in international airspace, the responsibility for the investigation falls under the jurisdiction of the Chilean accident investigation authority, Direccion General de Aeronautica Civil (DGAC). LATAM, headquartered in Chile, had the flight scheduled to continue to Santiago after the Auckland stop.
TAIC spokespersons stated, “TAIC is in the process of gathering evidence relevant to the inquiry, including seizing the cockpit voice and flight data recorders,” commonly referred to as the “black boxes.” These devices are crucial in providing detailed insights into the flight’s trajectory and communication between the pilots.
LATAM has yet to respond to inquiries about the handover of the black boxes to TAIC. However, the airline expressed its commitment to cooperating with relevant authorities in investigating the incident’s cause.
The sudden change in the flight’s trajectory remains unexplained, prompting concerns and a thorough examination by safety experts. New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority has pledged its support for the investigation if required.
The incident has reignited discussions within the aviation industry about the duration of cockpit recordings. This comes in the wake of revelations that voice recorder data on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9, which experienced a mid-flight panel loss in January, was overwritten. The investigation into the LATAM incident aims to uncover the multifaceted factors contributing to this unsettling event.