In light of a recent incident that occurred on a trip in the direction of New Zealand that was flown by LATAM Airlines, Boeing has issued a guideline to airlines instructing them to inspect the switches that are located on the pilots' chairs of their 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Following a mid-air plummet that occurred on a flight that was operated by Chilean airlines, which resulted in a number of passengers sustaining injuries, this preventative measure has been implemented.
As a part of the directive, Boeing has supplied instructions to airlines on how to disengage seat motors and encouraged them to examine the motorized cockpit chairs during routine maintenance. Although the investigation into Flight LA800 is still underway, Boeing is working with the authorities to ascertain whether or not any relevant findings have been discovered.
The message from Boeing comes after a report from the Wall Street Journal that described how a flight attendant accidentally activated a motorized function by pressing a switch on a captain's seat while the pilot was serving meals, which resulted in the jet going into a nosedive. Boeing was motivated to recommend actions to ensure the secure covering of switches and instructions on disabling seat motors that were not intended for use while pilots were sitting as a result of this report, which was based on early findings from the inquiry.
Both Boeing and LATAM Airlines have chosen not to provide any additional comments regarding the inquiry that is currently underway. The scrutiny that Boeing has been subjected to since past events involving its aircraft, such as the loss of an exterior panel from a Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by United Airlines and the detachment of a panel from a 737 Max aircraft operated by Alaska Airlines, has been increased as a result of this incident.
Boeing is continuing to maintain its emphasis on ensuring the safety and integrity of its aircraft while also maintaining tight collaboration with airlines and regulatory authorities in order to resolve any possible issues that may arise through the ongoing investigations.