Dozens of passengers were injured by a "strong movement" on board a Boeing-made plane flying from Sydney to Auckland, New Zealand, on Monday, with some requiring hospital treatment, authorities said.
It’s unclear exactly what caused the midflight injuries. The South American airline LATAM said in a statement that there was a “technical event during the flight which caused a strong movement," without elaborating further.
The local ambulance service in Auckland told The Associated Press that about 50 people were treated at the scene.
The airline said seven passengers and three cabin crew members were taken to Middlemore Hospital for medical checks, but no serious injuries were reported.
LATAM Airlines Flight LA800, a 787-9 Dreamliner, landed as scheduled in Auckland at 4:26 p.m. local time (11:26 p.m. Sunday ET) after its 2-hour, 42-minute flight. It's not known how many passengers were on board. The Dreamliner can hold 250 to 280.
The airline said in a statement: "As a result of the incident, some passengers and cabin crew were affected. They received immediate assistance and were evaluated or treated by medical staff at the airport as needed."
The statement continued: "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."
A Boeing spokesperson said in a statement: "We are working to gather more information about the flight and will provide any support needed by our customer."
Boeing has made headlines several times in recent months for technical problems with its aircraft, most notably when the door panel of an Alaska Airlines flight blew out midair over Portland, Oregon, on Jan. 5.
Bright orange flames were seen shooting out of an engine on a United Airlines Boeing 737-900 flight from Texas to Florida last week, forcing an emergency landing.
And an investigation is underway after another Boeing-made plane flown by United suffered "stuck" rudder pedals at Newark Airport in New Jersey last month.
