New Zealand Authorities Seize Black Boxes from LATAM Flight Following Mid-Air Incident

In response to a dramatic incident that injured over 50 individuals, New Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has announced the seizure of the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from a LATAM Airlines Boeing 787. The Sydney to Auckland flight experienced a sudden drop mid-air, alarming passengers and crew aboard the aircraft, which was carrying 263 passengers and nine crew members.

One of the passengers, Brian Adam Jokat, a Canadian residing in the UK, recounted the terrifying moment when he witnessed a fellow passenger being thrown against the ceiling of the aircraft. Jokat’s photographs post-incident depict the airplane’s interior damage, where passengers impacted the ceiling during the abrupt descent.

Chile’s aviation authority, the Direccion General de Aeronautica Civil (DGAC), has initiated an investigation into the flight, which was confirmed by New Zealand’s accident investigator. Given that the incident took place in international airspace, the inquiry falls under the jurisdiction of the Chilean authority, with TAIC assisting in the probe.

As part of its evidence-gathering efforts, TAIC has taken possession of the aircraft’s black boxes, which are expected to shed light on the flight’s trajectory and the communications between pilots leading up to the incident. The DGAC has acknowledged its collaboration with TAIC in conducting the investigation.

LATAM Airlines, headquartered in Chile and operating the flight destined for Santiago after its stop in Auckland, has yet to comment on the surrender of the black boxes to TAIC. The ongoing investigation aims to determine the cause of the mid-air drop and prevent similar occurrences in the future, ensuring passenger safety remains a paramount concern for aviation authorities and airlines alike.