“People flew through the cabin, there was blood on the ceiling”: passengers describe terror on Latam flight

Dozens of people were injured after a Latam flight from Australia to New Zealand experienced a “technical event” that produced a sudden movement, according to the airline.

Approximately 50 people were treated for injuries upon arrival in Auckland, including one person in serious condition, he told CNN the emergency medical services organization Hato Hone St John Ambulance.

The organization said 12 patients were sent to the hospital.

Affected passengers and cabin crew “received immediate assistance and were evaluated or treated by medical staff at the airport as necessary,” according to a statement from Latam to CNN .

“Flight LA800, which operates today on the Sydney – Auckland route, had a technical event during the flight that caused a strong movement,” said the statement, which added that the plane landed as scheduled in Auckland this Monday (11).

The statement did not detail what the technical event was.

Latam Airlines is Chile's main airline and regularly stops in Auckland on its way to Santiago.

St John Ambulance added that 14 units, including seven ambulances, responded to an incident at Auckland International Airport involving an approaching aircraft.

A passenger on board the flight named Jacinto, who spoke to the local airline affiliate CNN, RNZ said there was an “on-air crash”.

“People flew through the cabin,” he said. “People were really hurt,” he added.

Several passengers were not wearing seat belts at the time of the sudden fall, he added.

“People were also very scared,” he added.

Another passenger, who RNZ identified as Valentina, said the plane “just stopped” and “people flew away”.

“There was blood on the ceiling, people [voaram] and they broke the roof of the plane,” she said, adding that she was “very scared” to get on the plane again.

Valentina suffered minor injuries, but was treated by medical staff as soon as the plane landed.