A passenger on the flight to New Zealand that left 50 injured: "People were thrown from their seats, hit the ceiling and fell down the aisles"

AFP Auckland

Auckland

Updated Tuesday, March 12, 2024-13:17

New Zealand investigators recovered the flight record of the

LATAM

airline

Boeing

plane on Tuesday , as part of the investigation into the strong shake that left 50 passengers injured on the way between

Australia and Chile

via Auckland.

Passengers aboard the

Boeing 787 Dreamliner

reported that the plane suddenly descended during its journey between Sydney and Auckland, causing panic inside the cabin.

"The plane, without warning, just fell. I mean it fell like nothing I've ever experienced in any kind of minor turbulence, and people were thrown out of their seats, hit the roof of the plane, fell down the aisles," he said. passenger

Brian Jokat

to ABC television in Australia.

"Some of the ceiling panels broke because people were thrown and hit the plastic ceiling panels in the hallways. And several people had

blood coming out of their heads

."

The Chilean airline said Tuesday morning in New Zealand that they were working with the relevant authorities to elucidate the causes of this "technical incident."

Accident investigators in New Zealand said Tuesday they began collecting evidence, "including the seizure of cockpit voice and flight data recorders."

However, a spokesperson clarified that

"the investigation corresponds to Chile

. "

The event adds to a long saga of failures and problems in aircraft from the American manufacturer Boeing that have called into question the safety of its devices.

Verónica Martínez

, a sales administrator, said it felt like the plane had stopped mid-flight and then "we collapsed."

"People were flying, babies fell, it was horrible, many people were injured," Martínez told AFP.

Emergency crews were notified of the incident shortly before the plane landed.

More than a dozen ambulances and medical vehicles responded to the tarmac for their arrival.

Paramedics treated about 50 people at Auckland Airport.

Health authorities told AFP that four remained hospitalized on Tuesday morning.

The LATAM airline explained that

263 passengers and nine crew members were traveling on the plane

, which experienced "a strong movement."

"Fastened belts"

"As a result of the incident, 10 passengers of the nationalities of Brazil (2), France (1), Australia (4), Chile (1) and New Zealand (2) as well as 3 cabin crew were referred to a medical center to confirm his state of health," he said in a statement.

"Only one passenger and one crew member have injuries that require additional attention, but not life-threatening," she added.

The airline said Santiago

-bound passengers

will depart Auckland on Tuesday night.

In Santiago, the Chilean General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC) reported that the incident "will be investigated by the New Zealand Accident Investigation Commission."

Aviation safety expert

Joe Hattley

told AFP that technical problems were not common in modern aviation.

"The flight record will be key to understanding the event. It will tell investigators whether it was an atmospheric phenomenon or a technical problem with the aircraft," Hattley said.

"Aviation is a safe method of transportation. But these types of events demonstrate the absolute need for passengers to keep their seat belts fastened," he noted.

Brian Jokat, who was aboard the flight, said he saw another passenger hit the roof of the plane before falling and breaking his ribs on an armrest.

"He was against the roof of the plane, on his back, with his head facing me, looking at me.

It was like 'The Exorcist,

'" Jokat told RNZ, referring to a memorable scene from director William Friedkin's 1973 horror film.

Jokat added that once the plane landed, the pilot went to the back of the plane.

"I asked him 'what happened?'

and he told me 'I briefly lost my instrumentation and then it suddenly came back'.

Boeing's problems

The safety of Boeing aircraft is under scrutiny after a series of recent incidents.

Its 737 MAX

planes

were grounded for almost two years due to two accidents on flights by Indonesia's Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines in 2018 and 2019.

"We are working to collect more information from the flight and provide any necessary support," the company said in a statement.

He later added that "Boeing stands ready to support research-related activities as requested."

In January, on an Alaska Airlines

Boeing 737 MAX aircraft

, a door fell off shortly after takeoff, causing several minor injuries.

Last week, a Boeing 777 headed to Japan had to make an emergency landing after takeoff in

San Francisco

due to a detached wheel.

U.S. regulators this month gave the company 90 days to fix its quality control problems and urged it to commit to "deep and real improvements."