Is there any actual evidence for the "seat theory"? Or is it just some random's idea? I can't access the full article on The Australian and haven't seen any mention of it elsewhere. It also doesn't correspond with previous statements from passengers about what they were told by the crew.

The CVR will confirm or disprove the seat theory. There will be electric seat motor noise followed by expletives if it’s true.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the only mention of the panels going blank is from a passenger who claims the Captain told him that.
Maybe he did, but passengers often say some 'interesting' things after they've been involved in a newsworthy event and a camera/microphone is thrust in front of them.

Very true C441. Both the passengers and the media get a bit carried away in these events. "The jolt lasted about “40 milliseconds” according to passenger ......" according to The Australian, March 12.

"A new theory has emerged for the terrifying drop in altitude on a LATAM airlines flight from Sydney to Auckland which injured up to 50 passengers and crew.It is understood an issue with the electric seat mechanism in the cockpit may have pushed the pilot into the flight controls at such an angle the Boeing 787-9 was briefly sent into a deep dive.

The flight crew was able to recover the aircraft quickly, but the suddenness of the altitude loss meant any passengers and crew who were unrestrained were launched into the ceiling.

The explanation for the incident came as questions were asked about the safety of Boeing 787-9s, which are operated by numerous airlines, including Qantas, Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines.

An airline industry insider said the carriers were not reacting because of the information which had been shared with them after the LATAM incident.

“As soon as something like this occurs, information is shared with other operators of the aircraft type, to help them decide what action they may need to take,” said the source.

“In this case, it was none because the cause wasn’t related to a problem with the aircraft, it was something that happened in the cockpit.”

A pilot with knowledge of 787-9s said what was described could happen quite easily if the pilot’s seat was electrically driven forward.

“The control column if pushed forward enough, will override the autopilot causing it to disconnect,” said the pilot.

“The aircraft would then suddenly pitch down causing a negative G scenario where people would be up in the air if no seatbelt was worn.”


50 passengers injured on LATAM flight from SydneyLATAM airlines has so far only said a technical issue caused the “strong movement” which saw 13 passengers and crew taken to hospital in Auckland, including four Australians.

Dozens more were assessed and treated at the airport following Monday’s flight.

It was revealed the pilot told a passenger on board his flight control gauges momentarily went blank, resulting in the frightening drop.

Pilots familiar with Boeing aircraft expressed surprise such a thing could happen with the 787-9, but a Federal Aviation Administration directive issued in 2016 and 2020 warned all three flight control modules could simultaneously reset in certain circumstances.

Such a reset would only happen if the aircraft’s systems were not powered down for 22-days, which was considered highly unlikely to occur.

Chile’s Director General de Aeronautica Civil was investigating the incident with assistance from New Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Commission.

TAIC was responsible for gathering evidence, and had seized the cockpit voice and flight data recorders.

A Boeing spokesman said the manufacturer stood ready to support investigation-related activities as requested.

LATAM Airlines was formed in 2012 as the result of a merger by Chile’s Lan Airlines and Brazil’s Tam airlines.

It is considered the safest airline in the region and had a six out of seven-star rating on airlineratings.com."

Am I being a spelling pedant if I say they SEIZED it?

I see aircraft positions back to Santiago today… so no major structural or system issues one would assume.?

Reports from LATAM connections coincide with #85 above but line given is apparently aircraft fault. I guess we'll see and I'm sure Boeing will clarify asap...would be interested to know numbers/location of those in cockpit.

Also:https://theaircurrent.com/feed/dispa...investigation/

Next thing you know, there’ll be an AD limiting the girth of pilots on the 787.

No it didn’t.

30,000’. Holy soiled trousers, Batman!

Not according to Flightradar unless of course you are referring to its normal descent.:rolleyes:
There are a couple of 25ft altitude deviations but that is common on FR, especially with the 787 for some reason.

The data isn’t complete. There are gaps on FR24. I think the flight was at F410 too.

If the seat theory proves to be accurate, there’s a haiku in it somewhere

https://www.pprune.org/archive/index.php/t-613863.html

Was it a seat malfunction
a total flying control failure following software reset
or something else
(magnetic field !!)

surely Boeing should have issued a statement by now to end speculation - why haven’t they?

I before E except after C.

Oh, and before Z.

Because that's not how accident investigation works. Boeing as manufacturer is only one of the parties potentially involved and will send out a notice to operators if any immediate safety actions, modifications or checks are required. You may however regard the lack of such to date as indicative.

Definitely not. Somebody's gotta keep the show upright and on the rails. :E

Reuters are running a story based on this report.

Pilot Seat Report

The 787 pilot seat can be moved electrically by 2 distinct switches. One is located on the usual place, down near your hip. It is located on the side of the seat adjacent to the pedestal. (Boeing terminology: aisle stand)

The other switch, is located on TOP of the seat back, in the middle. Just behind the head rest. This switch is meant to make it easier to move the seat back, so you can get in more easily.

This second switch is new to me. I have been flying boeings for 29 years now, and this was the first time that I saw this second switch. 777, 747, 767 and obviously also the 737 all do not have this feature.

It is now possible for “others” who are not in the seat, to easily operate the seat electrically.