The clumsy flight attendant apparently accidentally pressed a switch on the pilot's seat while serving a mid-flight meal, U.S. airline officials briefed on preliminary evidence from the investigation told The Wall Street Journal .
That pushed the pilot into the controls, causing the plane to "nose down," sending many of the 263 passengers and nine crew members flying into the ceiling about two-thirds of the way through the flight, according to the New York Post .
Many passengers on the flight were injured and hospitalized after the plane landed.
The pilot eventually regained control of the descending plane and later landed safely in New Zealand.
Boeing this week issued a memo to airlines operating 787 jets, recommending that cockpit seats be inspected for loose covers on switches and providing instructions on how to cut power to powered pilot seats if necessary.
“Attaching the spring-loaded seat back switch protector to a loose/removable control switch cover may trap the control switch, resulting in unintended seat movement,” the memo noted.
Meanwhile, a LATAM spokesperson said the airline "continues to cooperate with the authorities to support the ongoing investigation."
The Chile-based airline previously said the Dreamliner had experienced a "technical problem during the flight that caused the aircraft to move violently". The aircraft then "experienced severe vibrations during the flight, the cause of which is currently under investigation".
Flight landed safely in New Zealand
Shocked passengers recounted the horrific ordeal, the aftermath of which was captured on video showing one woman lying unconscious in the aisle and others clutching their heads in pain.
"The plane, without warning, just went down. I mean it went down like nothing I've ever experienced with turbulence, and people were thrown out of their seats, hit the ceiling, and were thrown into the aisle," said passenger Brian Jokat.
The New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission has seized the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, which would provide information about conversations between pilots and the plane's movements.
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