US orders inspections for Boeing 787 cockpit seats after dive incident

WASHINGTON — Federal safety officials have mandated inspections of cockpit seats on Boeing 787 Dreamliners after a March incident where a Chile-based Latam Airlines jet experienced a sudden dive when the captain’s seat unexpectedly lurched forward, disengaging the autopilot.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that the inspection order will require checks for missing or cracked caps on switches that control seat movement.

The issue has been linked to several incidents, with the FAA identifying four other reports of unintended seat movements.

In a separate issue, Boeing has suspended test flights of its new 777-9 jetliner following the discovery of cracks in a thrust link component during maintenance after a test flight.

The 777-9, known for its folding wingtips, is undergoing certification but will pause testing as Boeing investigates and replaces the faulty part. — Agencies