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A traveller has opened up about the terrifying moment a plane suddenly dropped mid-flight, sending passengers slamming into the roof.
Chilean Latam Airlines LA800 flight was travelling from Sydney Auckland on Monday when it experienced a sudden drop in altitude due to a “strong shake” of turbulence during the flight.
The flight landed about 4pm NZ time, with Hato Hone St John paramedics rushing to the runway to assist.
One passenger, Lucas Ellwood compared the harrowing scenes inside the cabin to something out of the horror film “The Exorcist”.
“There were people whimpering all over, there were people injured all over,” he told Good Morning America.
“Everyone just hit the roof them fell to the ground.”
About 50 patients were assessed by paramedics with one patient in a serious condition who was taken to Middlemore Hospital.
Twelve patients were transported to hospital including two in a “moderate” condition.
The plane involved was a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
A LATAM Airlines Group spokesperson said flight LA800 was carrying 263 passengers and 9 flight and cabin crew members when it experienced a “strong shake” during flight.
“LATAM is working in coordination with the respective authorities to support the investigations into the incident,” the airline spokesperson said in a statement at 5am on Tuesday.
“LATAM provided affected passengers with food, accommodation, and transportation due to the flight cancellation.
“LATAM Airlines Groups’ priority is to support the passengers and crew members of the flight, and apologize for any inconvenience and discomfort that this situation may have caused. They also reiterate their commitment to safety as an uncompromising value within its operational standards.”
They said ten passengers – four of which were Australian – were taken to a medical center for assessment with one passenger and one crew member requiring additional treatment for non-life threatening injuries.
NZ Police confirmed Auckland Airport Police staff were made aware of the incident and were working with St John, which was leading the incident response.
It comes as NCA NewsWire understands another flight travelling from Sydney to San Francisco turned back after pilots reported a hydraulic fault to air control about 12pm on Monday.
The flight travelled about 650kms east of the harbour city out over the Tasman Sea, before the pilot was forced to make an about-turn.
The Boeing 777-300 landed safely about 2.30pm, and was met by firefighters on the tarmac.
It is unclear what time the pilot reported the fault to air traffic control.
Upon arrival, passengers were disembarked from the aircraft.
The plane has been taken ‘offline’ and will be inspected further before it is able to return to the sky.
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