Reason Why 50 Passengers Injured on Flight to New Zealand... Due to 'Aircraft Turbulence'

13 Passengers Transported to Nearby Hospital

A Chilean passenger plane traveling from Sydney, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand experienced a 'severe turbulence event,' resulting in injuries to over 50 passengers.

According to major foreign media on the 11th (local time), Latam Airlines, the largest airline in South America, issued a statement saying that its flight LA800 encountered severe turbulence due to a technical issue during the flight. Latam Airlines did not disclose the cause of the technical problem or specific details of the incident. However, the airline expressed apologies for the discomfort experienced by passengers during the situation.

LATAM Airlines, the largest airline in South America. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Most of the more than 50 injured passengers sustained minor injuries. They received treatment on-site immediately after arriving at Auckland Airport, and 13 were transported to nearby hospitals. Among them, one passenger is reported to be in serious condition.

Meanwhile, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft arrived at Auckland Airport as scheduled and is set to depart for Santiago, Chile.