The New Zealand Herald claimed that at least 50 people were hurt on a Latam Airlines flight on Monday.
According to the publication, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner flying from Sydney to Auckland encountered a mechanical failure, causing the plane to drop unexpectedly.
Latam Airlines told Business Insider that there was “a technical event during the flight that caused a strong movement.”
One passenger, who claimed to have previously worked as a flight attendant, told the Herald that this was her first experience with such an event.
She claimed there was a “quick little drop” and “the whole plane just froze.”
According to the publication, seven ambulances and four additional emergency vehicles were dispatched to Auckland Airport shortly after the jet landed.
According to Latam’s statement, 10 people were sent to the hospital, with no serious injuries reported.
However, the ambulance service informed the Herald that it had treated 50 patients, 12 of whom were taken to the hospital. It went on to say that one individual was in bad condition.
An onward flight to Santiago, Chile, has been canceled, with a replacement scheduled for Tuesday, the airline said in a statement. “Latam is providing affected passengers with food and accommodation services due to the flight cancellation,” according to the statement.
“Latam deeply regrets any inconvenience and discomfort this situation may have caused its passengers and reiterates its commitment to safety as a priority within the framework of its operational standards,” the airline said in a statement.
