50 Injured After Flight Experiences ‘Strong’ Mid-Air Drop: ‘People Were Flying’

• LATAM Airlines flight LA800 experienced a “strong” sudden movement on its route to Auckland, New Zealand, from Sydney, Australia 
• The mid-air incident resulted in 50 people injured and 13 hospitalized on Monday
• Passengers on the flight recall how “people were flying” around in the cabin during the “super scary” incident

A total of 50 people aboard a LATAM Airlines flight were injured after the aircraft experienced a sudden mid-air movement on Monday. 

LATAM Airlines flight LA800 was heading to Auckland, New Zealand, from Sydney, Australia, when it experienced a “strong shake”, according to a press release from the Chile-based airline.

“As a result of the incident, 10 passengers and 3 cabin crew members were taken to Middlemore Hospital to confirm their health condition,” the statement reads, adding that the “causes” of the abrupt motion “are being investigated.”

Hato Hone St John, an emergency medical service, confirmed to PEOPLE in a statement that their “ambulance crews assessed and treated approximately 50 patients” after arriving at Auckland Airport. Most of the injuries were “moderate to minor.” However, one passenger was left “in a serious condition.” 

There were 263 passengers and nine flight and cabin crew members on the flight, which landed safely at the New Zealand airport at 4:26 p.m. local time. It was making a stopover in Auckland on its way to its final destination of Santiago, Chile. 

A total of 14 Hato Hone St John units responded to the scene, including “seven ambulances, two operations managers, two Major Incident Support Team vehicles, one Command Unit, and two rapid response vehicles.” 

The Chile-bound portion of the flight was canceled following the incident and rescheduled for March 12 on flight LA1130 departing at 8 p.m. local time. Food and accommodation services were also provided to impacted passengers by the airline.

Auckland police confirmed they are “aware” of the incident and that Hato Hone St John is the leading agency involved. 

One passenger aboard the flight told RNZ that the plane “just stopped” and that "people were flying around and everything was super scary."

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Another recalled to the outlet, "It woke me up, I jumped. Drinks went everywhere. And we weren't so bad because we were in business class but the people down the back, because they were closer together, a few people got injured.”