‘Strong movement’ during flight to New Zealand leaves dozens injured

About 50 people were treated by medical workers on Monday after a Latam Airlines flight bound for Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, encountered what the airline called “strong motion” caused by a “technical problem”.

Twelve people, one of whom was in a serious condition, were taken to three hospitals, the Auckland Ambulance Service said. Latam, a Chilean airline, did not provide details of the technical problem it said caused the disruption.

One passenger, who said she was a former flight attendant, told The New Zealand Herald that a “rapid small descent” had occurred during the flight, Latam Airlines Flight 800. Aircraft tracking information from Flight Aware showed a lead of about an hour for which no data were available.

According to the city’s ambulance service, Hato Hone St. John, the plane, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, was met at Auckland International Airport by 14 emergency vehicles, including seven ambulances. Paramedics treated about 50 people at the scene, including the person in serious condition; the others were in “moderate to minor condition,” the agency said.

Rob Harley, a hospital spokesman, said six people had been taken to the emergency department at Auckland’s Middlemore Hospital and four others were on their way. He said the six patients in hospital had injuries including cuts, abrasions and lacerations, but all were able to walk – “in other words, not life-threatening.”

The flight was due to continue later Monday from Auckland to Santiago, the Chilean capital. Latam said that part of the flight had been canceled and passengers bound for Santiago would be flown there on Tuesday.