50 Injured After Flight Experiences ‘Strong’ Mid-Air Drop: ‘People Were Flying’

Mar. 15, 2025

Stock image of passengers on a flight.Photo:Getty

Getty

A total of 50 people aboard a LATAM Airlines flight were injured after the aircraft experienced a sudden mid-air movement on Monday.

LATAM Airlines flight LA800 was heading to Auckland, New Zealand, from Sydney, Australia, when it experienced a “strong shake”, according to apress releasefrom the Chile-based airline.

“As a result of the incident, 10 passengers and 3 cabin crew members were taken to Middlemore Hospital to confirm their health condition,” the statement reads, adding that the “causes” of the abrupt motion “are being investigated.”

Hato Hone St John, an emergency medical service, confirmed to PEOPLE in a statement that their “ambulance crews assessed and treated approximately 50 patients” after arriving at Auckland Airport. Most of the injuries were “moderate to minor.” However, one passenger was left “in a serious condition.”

There were 263 passengers and nine flight and cabin crew members on the flight, which landed safely at the New Zealand airport at 4:26 p.m. local time. It was making a stopover in Auckland on its way to its final destination of Santiago, Chile.

LATAM airplane flying in the sky.Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty

Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty

A total of 14 Hato Hone St John units responded to the scene, including “seven ambulances, two operations managers, two Major Incident Support Team vehicles, one Command Unit, and two rapid response vehicles.”

Auckland police confirmed they are “aware” of the incident and that Hato Hone St John is the leading agency involved.

Auckland International Airport.Bradley White/Getty

Bradley White/Getty

One passenger aboard the flight toldRNZthat the plane “just stopped” and that “people were flying around and everything was super scary.”

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Another recalled to the outlet, “It woke me up, I jumped. Drinks went everywhere. And we weren’t so bad because we were in business class but the people down the back, because they were closer together, a few people got injured.”

source: people.com