Boeing 787 Gets New Airworthiness Directive

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a new Airworthiness Directive in response to a March incident involving a Boeing 787.

The Airworthiness Directive follows a 787-9 flight with LATAM that originated in Sydney, Australia. The flight nosedived unexpectedly midflight, injuring some 50 passengers aboard.

That flight had 263 passengers and nine crew aboard and saw those standing or not strapped into their seats slam into the ceiling. The flight eventually arrived in Auckland after doctors examined the injured patients aboard.

When speaking with the BBC, a passenger said that the plane dropped, unlike anything he’d ever experienced, with passengers being thrown onto the roof of the cabin.

This alarming incident, which was traumatic for passengers, was then investigated by all relevant parties, and now the FAA is responding.

The Federal Aviation Administration stated in its AD that the unexpected and intense dive was caused by the captain’s seat and uncommanded movement, which led to the autopilot disengaging momentarily during the flight.

Interestingly, however, as part of the AD, the FAA stated that this wasn’t the only time something like this occurred, with five other reports of the first officer seat on the Boeing 787 moving uncommanded.

Airworthiness directives aren’t uncommon and are typically imposed to ensure that aircraft can be maintained to the highest order. Furthermore, any prospective issues can be inspected to ensure they don’t have possible further negative ramifications.

The FAA says airline customers of 787 Dreamliner variants must now inspect the cockpit seats to prevent this type of incident from happening again.