- Djokovic proves staying power as progresses to Shanghai semi-finals
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- Britain face 'ultimate challenge' in America's Cup duel with New Zealand
- Lebanon calls for 'immediate' ceasefire in Israel-Hezbollah war
- Nihon Hidankyo: Japan's A-bomb survivors awarded Nobel
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- 'Unspeakable horror': the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
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- Christian villagers 'trapped' in south Lebanon crossfire
- Sabalenka sets up Gauff showdown in Wuhan semis
- EU questions shopping app Temu over illegal products risk
- Kim Sei-young holds lead with late birdies at LPGA Shanghai
- Toulouse welcome Dupont 'boost' as Olympic star returns to Top 14
- Japanese atomic bomb survivor group Nihon Hidankyo wins Nobel Peace Prize
- Deadly Israeli strike on Beirut likely targeted Hezbollah security chief
- Bangladesh Islamist chief backs crimes against humanity trial for ex-PM
- Everest climber's remains believed found after 100 years
- 20 Pakistan coal miners shot dead in attack
- Clashes on South China Sea, Ukraine dominate Asia summit
- Han Kang's books sell out in South Korea after Nobel win
- Zelensky meets Pope, Scholz as whirlwind Europe tour ends
- Hello Hallyu: why is South Korean culture sweeping the globe?
- UK economy rebounds in August in boost to new govt
- Voice of Japan's beloved robot cat 'Doraemon' dies
- Shanghai markets sink ahead of briefing on mixed day for Asia
- Investors, analysts eye bigger China stimulus at Saturday briefing
- 20 Pakistan coal miners shot dead in attack: police
- Blinken condemns China's 'increasingly dangerous' sea moves
- Toyota returns to Formula One as Haas partner
- EU chief says China must 'adapt its behaviour' to solve trade row
- Musk unveils robotaxi, pledges it 'before 2027'
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- Pogacar hunting 'perfect' season finale with Coppi's Il Lombardia record
- 'Soul of old Baghdad': city centre sees timid revival
- Kittle at the double as Niners hold off Seahawks
- At least 11 dead in Florida but Hurricane Milton not as bad as feared
- Yankees advance in MLB playoffs as Guardians stay alive
- Asian markets mixed after Wall St drop, Shanghai dips before briefing
- Automaker Stellantis says CEO will retire in 2026
- Musk's promised robotaxi unveil delayed
- Kamada says Japan can close in on World Cup place against Australia
- On US coast, wind power foes embrace 'Save the Whales' argument
- Renewables revolt in Sardinia, Italy's coal-fired island
- Argentina held, Brazil leave it late in 2026 World Cup qualifiers
- Obama blasts 'crazy' Trump in first rally for Harris
- 2024 Nobel Peace Prize, a plea in favour of world order?
- Fry homers as Guardians down Tigers to stay alive in MLB playoffs
- Japan PM presses China's Li on airspace intrusion
Watchdogs probe 'technical' failure on Boeing-made LATAM plane
Airline watchdogs were on Tuesday investigating why a Boeing-made plane bound for New Zealand violently lost altitude mid-flight, injuring a host of terrified passengers.
Passengers aboard the LATAM flight said the Boeing 787 Dreamliner plunged earthward while flying from Sydney to Auckland on Monday evening, slinging unrestrained travellers out of their seats and smashing them into the roof of the cabin.
The Chilean airline said Tuesday it was working with authorities to unravel the unspecified "technical event", the latest in a string of safety incidents to plague US airplane manufacturer Boeing.
"It was just a split second," said Auckland-based chef Lucas Ellwood, who was on board flight LA800.
"The crashing of people into the roof caused the tiling to be dislodged," he told AFP on Tuesday.
"The guy behind me was in the toilet when it happened, the poor guy. He told me he went through the roof," he added.
Emergency crews were notified shortly before the flight landed and a phalanx of more than a dozen ambulances and other medical vehicles rushed to the scene.
Paramedics said they treated about 50 patients after the flight touched down at Auckland Airport, with health officials telling AFP four people remained in hospital as of Tuesday morning.
LATAM said there were 263 passengers and nine cabin crew on board when the plane "experienced a strong movement".
"Only one passenger and one crew member have injuries that require additional care but are not life-threatening," LATAM said in a statement.
The flight arrived on time, the airline added.
New Zealand air safety investigators will lead the probe into the incident with the help of Chilean officials, the Chilean General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics said in a statement.
Air accident safety investigator Joe Hattley told AFP that technical problems were rare in modern aircraft.
"That flight record will be key to understanding this event. It will tell investigators if it was an atmospheric event or a technical problem with the aircraft," said Hattley, who also teaches at the University of New South Wales in Australia.
"Aviation is a safe method of transport. But these kinds of events highlight the absolute need for passengers to keep their seatbelts fastened."
Data from airline tracker FlightAware showed the plane lost altitude about two hours into the three-hour flight.
Brian Jokat, who was on board, said he saw a passenger strike the roof of the plane before falling back down and hitting his ribs on an armrest.
"He was on the roof of the plane on his back, looking down on me. It was like 'The Exorcist'," Jokat told national broadcaster Radio New Zealand.
Jokat said that after the plane landed, the pilot came to the back of the cabin.
"I asked him 'what happened?' and he said to me 'I lost my instrumentation briefly and then it just came back all of a sudden'," Jokat said.
- Safety issues -
US manufacturer Boeing has suffered a series of safety issues in recent years, including the fatal Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines crashes of 737 MAX planes in 2018 and 2019 that killed more than 350 people.
"We are working to gather more information about the flight and will provide any support needed by our customer," Boeing said in a statement sent to AFP.
Boeing is still reeling from a near-catastrophic incident in January when a fuselage panel on a Boeing 737 MAX 9 Alaska Airlines jet blew off mid-flight in the United States.
US regulators earlier this month gave Boeing 90 days to come up with a plan addressing quality control issues, with the Federal Aviation Administration chief saying the company must "commit to real and profound improvements".
Last week, a Boeing 777 jetliner bound for Japan had to make an emergency landing shortly after takeoff from San Francisco when a wheel fell off and plunged into an airport parking lot, damaging several cars.
LATAM said passengers destined for Santiago would now leave New Zealand on Tuesday evening.
P.Costa--AMWN