At least 50 people have been injured and at least 10 taken to hospital after a “technical event” sparked chaos on a Sydney to Auckland flight on Monday.
Dozens of passengers and crew were treated by paramedics at Auckland Airport after LATAM Airlines flight LA800 reportedly experienced a sudden drop in altitude over the Tasman.
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About 50 people were treated at the scene for mostly mild injuries with 13 taken to hospital, an ambulance spokesperson said.
The airline said seven passengers and three cabin crew were taken to Middlemore Hospital for medical checks.
One patient is believed to be in a serious condition.
The Chilean airline said there was “a technical event during the flight which caused a strong movement”, in a statement.
One passenger, who gave his name as Jacinto, told Radio NZ there was a “mid-air drop” before “people flew through the cabin”.
A number of passengers were not wearing their seatbelts at the time, he added.
The aircraft involved is a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, according to data from flight tracking service Flightaware.
The LA800 flight departed on Monday and was due to continue to Santiago, Chile. The airline said the plane landed at Auckland Airport as scheduled.
“LATAM regrets 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,” it said.
The airline has scheduled a new flight from Auckland to Santiago on Tuesday and is providing affected passengers with food and accommodation.
LATAM Airlines operates regular routes between Sydney, Auckland and major centres in South America.
It is unclear how many Australians, if any, were on board.
– With AAP
