FAA Directive Targets 787s After Midair Incidents

The FAA has mandated comprehensive inspections of Boeing 787 Dreamliners following a harrowing midair incident that left passengers injured.

At a Glance

The FAA will require inspections of hundreds of Boeing 787 Dreamliners following a LATAM Airlines incident in March.
The plunge was caused by a cockpit seat jolting forward and disconnecting the autopilot system.
Inspections are required for 158 U.S.-registered airplanes and 737 airplanes worldwide, to be completed within 30 days.
Boeing supports the FAA’s directive.

FAA Orders Immediate Inspections

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a directive requiring comprehensive inspections of Boeing 787 aircraft. This action follows a troubling midair incident involving a LATAM Airlines flight in March, which experienced an unanticipated and dangerous drop that injured at least 50 passengers. The new inspection mandate calls for rigorous checks to identify and rectify any mechanical or technical issues that might lead to similar events.

FAA’s directive underscores the commitment to passenger safety. The inspections must include checks on the Captain’s and First Officer’s cockpit seats for missing or cracked rocker switch caps and for any cracked or nonfunctional switch cover assemblies. According to the FAA: “Inspections are required for 158 U.S.-registered airplanes and 737 airplanes worldwide, to be completed within 30 days.”

The FAA ordered new safety inspections for pilot seats on Boeing 787 jets after a string of concerning incidents, including a LATAM Airlines flight in March that took an unexpected midair dive, injuring more than a dozen people. @TrevorLAult reports. pic.twitter.com/ubdXsOtXZS

— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) August 21, 2024

Cause of the Midair Plunge

In the incident, the uncommanded movement of a cockpit seat led to the autopilot system getting disconnected, causing the aircraft to suddenly descend. “The plane, unannounced, just dropped. I mean it dropped unlike anything I’ve ever experienced on any kind of minor turbulence, and people were thrown out of their seats, hit the top of the roof of the plane, thrown down the aisles,” passenger Brian Jokat recalled. The FAA’s inspections are a response to correcting these mechanical failures.

“The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is issuing an immediately effective Airworthiness Directive (AD) for certain Boeing 787-8, 9, and -10 airplanes,” the FAA said in an emailed statement to The Hill on Tuesday.

The FAA has noted four similar reports since the initial incident, the latest being in June. Out of these reports, loose rocker switch caps on the backs of cockpit seats were identified as the cause in three instances, though two cases are still under investigation.

The FAA has issued an Airworthiness Directive mandating inspections of all Boeing 787 variants. https://t.co/suibdtlApA

— Airways Magazine (@airwaysmagazine) August 20, 2024

Global Impact and Industry Response

This mandate affects more than just the aircraft in the United States; it has a global impact. It influences approximately 64,000 flights worldwide, potentially impacting 18 million seats over the next month. Major airlines such as All Nippon Airways, Qatar Airways, American Airlines, and United Airlines will face significant logistical challenges.

The FAA oversees and regulates all flights into and over U.S. territorial airspace. This regulatory reach impacts carriers operating crucial routes between the United States and Europe, potentially leading to significant global travel disruptions. Airlines have a demanding schedule ahead, needing to reorganize seating plans and flight schedules within the stipulated 30-day period to identify and rectify any seat-related issues.

Boeing has also been under additional scrutiny. The company recently discovered incorrectly installed fasteners on some undelivered jets and has suspended test flights for its 777-9 after a component failure. Despite these ongoing concerns, Boeing maintains its confidence in the safety and reliability of its Dreamliners.

The FAA mandated that operators of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner inspect the jet’s cockpit seats after an uptick in reports about inadvertent movements disrupting flights https://t.co/NXNRiRkL7O

— Bloomberg (@business) August 19, 2024