In response to a recent incident involving a LATAM Airlines flight, Boeing has recommended airlines to inspect switches on pilots' seats in their Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets. It was reported that an accidental cockpit seat movement likely caused the sudden plunge of a flight en route to New Zealand.

Boeing issued a memo on Friday, advising airlines to inspect the motorized cockpit seats during their next maintenance check on the 787s. The aircraft manufacturer emphasized the importance of disabling the motors that move the seats, providing instructions to ensure their proper handling. The company stressed that this recommendation was a precautionary measure, without directly linking it to the incident on the LATAM Airlines flight.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) acknowledged the Boeing memo and stated that it was issued "in response to the incident on LATAM Flight 800." As a result, the FAA announced that it would convene a panel of experts to review Boeing's advisory to airlines.

LATAM Airlines initially described the incident as a "technical event" during the flight that caused a strong movement. However, in a subsequent update, the airline stated that the plane "experienced a strong shake during flight, the cause of which is currently under investigation."

Passengers aboard the Dreamliner reported that the sudden drop in altitude resulted in individuals not wearing seatbelts being thrown from their seats, colliding with the cabin ceiling and aisles. The plane was eventually able to land safely at Auckland Airport as scheduled, but approximately 50 people were injured according to emergency crews.

The incident has now led to three passengers filing a $1 billion lawsuit against Alaska Airlines and Boeing following a separate incident where a door plug blew off during a flight.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a popular two-aisle aircraft used primarily for long international flights. The version involved in the LATAM flight can accommodate up to approximately 300 passengers. Leading airline companies such as United Airlines, with 71 Dreamliners, and American Airlines, with 59, have a significant number of these planes in their fleets. American Airlines has confirmed that Boeing's instructions will not impact their operations, while United Airlines declined to comment on the matter.

Late on Thursday, The Wall Street Journal reported that a flight attendant serving a meal in the cockpit accidentally hit a switch on the back of a seat, pushing the pilot into the controls and causing the nose of the plane to move downward. Anonymous industry officials familiar with the preliminary investigation findings revealed this information. Boeing has advised airlines to ensure that the switches are securely covered, as they are not intended for use during flights, and has provided instructions on how to disable the seat motor.

Chile's aviation regulator has already dispatched investigators to New Zealand, and they will lead the investigation in accordance with international protocols. At this stage, no official findings have been released.

This incident comes at a time when Boeing is already under heightened scrutiny following the panel blowout on an Alaska Airlines 737 Max over Oregon in January. The FAA, the National Transportation Safety Board, and the Justice Department are conducting separate investigations into the blowout and Boeing's manufacturing processes for the Max jets.