LATAM Airlines Flight 800 was a scheduled international passenger flight from Sydney Airport in Australia to Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in Santiago, Chile, with a stopover at Auckland Airport, New Zealand. On 11 March 2024, around two hours into the first leg of the flight, the Boeing 787-9 operating the flight experienced an in-flight upset and dropped suddenly. Of the 272 people onboard, 50 were injured, with 12 taken to the hospital after landing in Auckland.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The aircraft was a Boeing 787-9, registration CC-BGG. It was delivered to LAN Airlines in December 2015.^[6]

The aircraft had operated the outbound flight, LA801, from Santiago to Sydney via Auckland.^[7] After the incident, the onward leg to Santiago was cancelled. The aircraft remained in Auckland until 14 March, when it returned to Santiago.^[8]

LATAM Airlines Flight 800 departed from Sydney Airport at 11:44 AEDT (00:44 UTC), climbing to cruise at flight level 410 (approximately 41,000 ft or 12,500 m).^[7][4]

While the flight was over the Tasman Sea, around two hours into the flight and one hour away from Auckland, the aircraft dropped suddenly. In a few seconds, the plane lost over 300 ft (90 m) of altitude. People and objects that were not restrained were thrown upwards, with around 30 to 40 people hitting the ceiling of the cabin, damaging multiple ceiling panels.^[9][10] One person said it felt "like an earthquake", and one passenger recalled being thrown back four to five seat rows.^[11]

The aircraft continued to Auckland as scheduled, landing at 16:26 NZDT (03:26 UTC).^[7] Medical staff boarded the plane at Auckland Airport and treated the wounded, tending to 50 people, with reports of cuts and bruises, head and neck injuries, and broken bones. Twelve people were transported to hospital, including one person in a serious condition.^[12] Four people were still hospitalised as of 14 March 2024.^[8]

As the incident occurred on a Chilean-registered aircraft over international waters, the Chilean Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) is responsible for investigating the incident, and began an inquiry on 12 March 2024. The New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) is assisting in the inquiry. The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from the aircraft were recovered by the TAIC, but their contents have not yet been released.^[13]

A passenger reported a pilot told them after landing that the instruments in the cockpit went blank when the plane fell, then came back online a few seconds later.^[14][15][16] It has also been reported that the inadvertent movement of a pilot's seat possibly caused the incident. A flight attendant could somehow have activated a covered rocker switch on the back of the pilot's seat. If the cover was loose, pressing on it would be enough to activate the switch underneath when it otherwise normally wouldn't have. The activation of this switch would have slowly moved the seat forward into the control yoke, resulting in the nose down attitude, disengaging the autopilot, according to US industry officials.^[17]

Boeing responded to the incident by stating "We are working to gather more information about the flight and will provide any support needed by our customers". The accident followed Boeing's increased criticisms for multiple in-flight problems on their aircraft.^[19]

LATAM apologized for the incident, stating "We regret the inconvenience and injury this situation may have caused its passengers, and reiterates its commitment to safety as a priority within the framework of its operational standards".^[20]

The FAA responded to the incident in an undisclosed message, and in return Boeing released a statement regarding the flight, quoting "Based on the FAA audit, our quality stand downs and the recent expert panel report, we continue to implement immediate changes and develop a comprehensive action plan to strengthen safety and quality, and build the confidence of our customers and their passengers".^[21]

In response to the report of an issue with a seat switch being the likely cause of the accident, Boeing issued a memo reminding that airlines inspect the cockpit chairs of 787 aircraft for loose switches. Boeing warned that closing a seat back switch cover onto a loose rocker switch could "potentially jam the rocker switch, resulting in unintended seat movement".^[22][23]

• 2024 in aviation
• Qantas Flight 72, an incident in 2008 with similar circumstances