Operators of Boeing 787 Dreamliner worldwide have received instructions from the FAA to inspect the captain's and copilot's seats on all 787-8, 787-9 and 787-10 models for missing or damaged rocker switch covers.
Airlines operating these planes must complete inspections within 30 days and take any necessary corrective actions. According to the Reuters, the measure affects 158 planes in the United States and 737 around the world.
The new FAA guidance is a response to the incident that occurred in March with a Boeing LATAM Airlines 787-9, ed as CC-BGG, which suffered a sudden crash during the cruise flight. The flight, between Sydney and Auckland, left more than 50 engers injured, including some seriously, with one person in a critical condition.
Authorities released a preliminary report indicating that the captain's seat moved forward, possibly causing the aircraft to suddenly lose altitude. The report confirmed that weather was not a factor in the incident, which occurred at 41.000 feet in elevation.
Reports indicated that a flight attendant accidentally flipped a switch on the pilot's seat during meal service, causing the seat to move forward and push the pilot against the controls, sending the aircraft into a nose-down position.
After the incident, the Boeing issued a warning to inspect the cockpit seat switches of the Boeing NEVER Dreamliner, but the new FAA guidance requires inspections to be completed within a month.
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