US Regulators Order Inspections of Boeing 787 Pilot Seats Following Incident of Sudden Descent

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Monday that it has mandated inspections of pilot seats on hundreds of Boeing 787 aircraft after a March incident in which a sudden descent during a flight resulted in passenger injuries.

The directive comes after a report of “uncommanded movement of the captain’s seat in the forward direction,” which caused a rapid and unexpected plunge, the FAA said in a statement. The agency’s airworthiness directive affects 158 U.S.-registered Boeing 787 Dreamliner models and 737 planes worldwide.

The FAA’s action was prompted by a March flight on a LATAM Airlines plane bound for New Zealand. The flight, en route from Sydney to Auckland, experienced a sudden downward lurch, injuring approximately 50 passengers.

Since that incident, Boeing has reported four additional cases of “uncommanded horizontal movement” of the captain and first officer’s seats to the FAA. Three of these cases were attributed to “loose” switch caps on the seats, while two incidents remain under investigation.

The FAA warned that “unintended and sustained movement of the seat” could result in abrupt flight control inputs, leading to a rapid descent and potentially causing serious injuries to passengers and crew.

In its statement, the FAA emphasized the urgency of addressing this “unsafe condition” to ensure the safety of these aircraft. Boeing has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.

Key Points:

1. Inspection Mandate: The FAA has ordered inspections of pilot seats on hundreds of Boeing 787 aircraft following a March incident that caused passenger injuries due to a sudden plane descent.
2. Airworthiness Directive: The directive affects 158 U.S.-registered Boeing 787 Dreamliner models and 737 planes globally. Operators are required to perform necessary corrective actions.
3. Incident Details: The inspection requirement follows a March flight operated by LATAM Airlines from Sydney to Auckland, which experienced an unexpected descent, injuring around 50 passengers.
4. Additional Reports: Since the March incident, the FAA has received reports of four more cases involving “uncommanded horizontal movement” of pilot seats. Three incidents were linked to loose switch caps, and two are still under investigation.
5. Safety Concerns: The FAA has highlighted that unintended seat movement could lead to abrupt flight control inputs, risking a rapid descent and serious injuries to passengers and crew.
6. Boeing’s Response: Boeing has not yet provided a comment on the FAA’s directive and the related safety concerns.