Survivors of LATAM Airlines Mid-Air Incident Arrive in Chile, Recount Terrifying Experience
A distressing mid-air incident that occurred on board a LATAM Airlines flight from Australia to New Zealand, on Monday, left dozens of passengers injured. Two Chilean residents, Verónica Martínez and Diego Valenzuela, who were part of the affected passengers, shared their experiences with the media upon arriving in Santiago International Airport on Tuesday.
Verónica Martínez, a Chilean resident, described her ordeal as “a horrible experience.” According to her, the plane suddenly went down mid-flight, causing a state of panic on board. She stated that everything was normal until the aircraft experienced an unexpected descent.
“The plane just kind of shut down, went down,” she recounted. “There were people flying – things flying.” Martínez was fortunate to escape unharmed due to the use of her seatbelt, but she witnessed several incidents that left her shaken. She described the moment as feeling like being on a roller coaster.
Another passenger, Diego Valenzuela, shared similar sentiments. He reported that for 3 to 4 seconds, the plane experienced a sudden and dramatic drop, resulting in numerous injuries among passengers and crew members. Valenzuela was visibly relieved to have reached Chilean soil after the harrowing experience.
The incident, which LATAM Airlines reported as a “technical event” that resulted in a sudden movement, left approximately 50 passengers requiring medical assistance upon arrival in Auckland. One individual was reported to be in serious condition. Emergency medical services provider Hato Hone St John Ambulance confirmed these numbers, adding that 12 patients had been taken to hospitals for further treatment.
LATAM Airlines issued a statement to News Finder, saying that all affected passengers and cabin crew “received immediate assistance and were evaluated or treated by medical staff at the airport as needed.” The statement did not provide any additional information regarding the cause of the incident.
A team of Chilean aviation authorities has been dispatched to Auckland for further investigation into the incident, according to Chile’s Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC). The team consists of four members and will be provided with the plane’s flight recorders, also known as black boxes, for analysis. A technician from New Zealand will also join the investigation to aid in understanding the causes of this unfortunate incident.
