The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered airlines to inspect hundreds of Boeing 787 Dreamliners after a mid-flight incident in March caused dozens of passengers to be injured due to random movement of the pilots’ seats. The directive affects 158 US-registered planes and 737 planes worldwide. The FAA stated that the captain’s and first officer’s seats on certain 787-7, 787-9, and 787-10 airplanes should be inspected for missing or cracked rocker switch caps within 30 days.
The incident occurred during LATAM Flight 800 when the captain’s seat experienced involuntary movement forward, causing the control column input to disconnect the auto-pilot, resulting in a rapid descent. This uncommanded horizontal movement can lead to unintended and abrupt flight control inputs, risking injury to passengers and crew. Following the incident, Boeing reported four additional cases of the same problem to the FAA.
Boeing, which recently finalized a deal to plead guilty to fraud after the 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019, has not yet commented on the FAA directive. The company is also under investigation for a separate incident in January when a 737 Max operated by Alaska Airlines lost part of its fuselage mid-flight. The FAA’s actions are part of ongoing efforts to address safety concerns and ensure the airworthiness of Boeing aircraft.
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