Chilean report into LATAM Airlines flight plunge finds ‘involuntary movement forward’ from pilot’s seat

LATAM Flight 800 was flying from Australia to New Zealand when the Boeing 787 Dreamliner suddenly plunged 400 feet. Investigators are trying to find out why.

A preliminary report from Chile’s aviation authority on the LATAM Airlines plane that plunged mid-air on March 11 says that the captain’s seat experienced an “involuntary movement forward” midflight. LATAM Flight 800 was flying from Australia to New Zealand when the Boeing 787 Dreamliner descended 400 feet, and the cause of the sudden plunge is yet to be determined, according to the report. It says crews that worked on the plane during and before the flight have been interviewed, including maintenance personnel that “verified the condition of the captain’s seat.” Authorities are also studying any history related to the seats inside the plane’s cockpit. A source close to the investigation told CNN that both the black box and the seat that the report says shifted during the flight are currently in Chile but will eventually be sent to the United States. The black box will be handed over to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and the captain’s seat will be inspected by the FAA and Boeing, the report said.