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The FAA has issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD) requiring operators of all Boeing 787 models to inspect the flight deck seat switches. This directive follows a sudden forward pitch incident involving a Dreamliner off Australia last March, which resulted in injuries to 50 people. The dive occurred due to an "uncommanded horizontal movement" of the captain's seat, causing the yoke to be pushed forward. Unbelted passengers and crew were thrown about the cabin, with some sustaining serious injuries.
The FAA noted that since the March incident, there have been at least five other reported issues with the switch.
The aircraft was en route from Sydney to Auckland to pick up additional passengers before heading across the Pacific to Santiago. An investigation revealed that a flight attendant delivering refreshments accidentally bumped the seat control switch. The guard over the switch was loose and jammed it in the forward position, resulting in full forward pressure on the yoke.
