An ambulance leaves Auckland Airport after responding to the incident (Picture: AAP)
Several passengers on a plane to New Zealand were taken to hospital upon landing after a ‘strong movement’ mid-flight injured around 50 people.
Latam Airlines flight LA800, which was travelling from Sydney to Auckland, encountered a ‘technical problem’ on Monday afternoon that caused the aircraft to drop.
One person was reported to be in a serious condition with the rest in a moderate to minor condition, according to the St John ambulance.
‘So far, 13 patients have been transported to Middlemore Hospital by ambulance,’ they said in a statement.
Four ambulances, two operations managers, one Major Incident Support Team vehicle, one Command Unit, and two rapid response vehicles had originally been sent to respond to the incident.
Another passenger told the NZ Herald she felt a ‘quick little drop’ during the flight as it crossed the Tasman Sea between New Zealand and Australia.
She said: ‘I used to be a flight attendant and this is the first time I’ve ever… the whole plane just froze.’
A spokesperson for the Chilean airline said: ‘The plane landed at Auckland Airport as scheduled.
‘As a result of the incident, some passengers and cabin crew were affected. They received immediate assistance and were evaluated or treated by medical staff at the airport as needed.
‘Latam regrets the inconvenience and injury this situation may have caused its passengers, and reiterates its commitment to safety as a priority within the framework of its operational standards.’
The airline operates regular routes between Sydney, Auckland, and several major cities in South America.
It said a new flight has been scheduled for people who were planning to travel from Auckland on to the Chilean capital of Santiago.
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