According to U.S. industry officials briefed on the investigation, a Latam Airlines flight attendant accidentally hit a switch on the pilot’s seat while serving a meal.
This action activated a motorized feature that pushed the pilot into the controls, causing the plane’s nose to dip.
The switch, located on the back of the chair and typically covered, is not intended for use when a pilot is seated.
In response, Boeing issued a memo to 787 operators recommending inspection of cockpit chairs for loose switch covers and providing instructions on how to disable the pilot seat motor if necessary.
The memo also mentioned potential updates to flight crew manuals.
This incident highlights a known issue, with Boeing having issued a related service notice in 2017. However, it is not confirmed whether a loose switch cover was a factor in the Latam flight incident. Approximately 375 planes are affected by this issue.
Boeing emphasized that the memo serves as a precautionary measure and a reminder to follow the earlier bulletin to inspect and maintain seat switches.
The Dreamliner has been in service since 2011, and the aircraft involved in the Latam flight is eight years old.
About 50 passengers on the Sydney-to-Auckland flight required medical attention, with some passengers reportedly pinned to the ceiling as the plane descended suddenly.
Latam described the event as a “technical event during the flight which caused strong movement.”
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, with Boeing deferring to authorities for any findings.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated it was closely monitoring the situation and had convened a corrective-action review board to examine Boeing’s response.
American Airlines also issued a notice to 787 captains regarding the hazard and instructed crews not to use the switch while the chair is occupied.
The 787 Dreamliner's cockpit seats are designed to move to enable pilots to maneuver in the tightly packed flight decks.
The investigation is being led by two investigators from Chile’s civil-aviation agency, supported by an expert from New Zealand.
Boeing has faced scrutiny for safety lapses, including a recent incident involving a fuselage panel detaching from an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX jet midflight.