Passengers onboard LATAM Airlines flight that suddenly nosedived given single McDonald’s cheeseburger at airport

World News

By Melissa Koenig

They weren’t lovin’ it.

Terrified passengers on the Boeing jet that suddenly nosedived, injuring dozens, have accused the airline of ignoring them for several hours after the horror flight — and only offering a McDonald’s cheeseburger.

The more than 200 passengers on LATAM Airlines flight LA800 were fed the not-so-Happy Meal after landing Monday in Auckland, New Zealand — then given nothing else until at least 2 a.m., when they were finally shuttled to local hotels for the night, some complained to the New Zealand Herald.

“It’s just ridiculous, just so disorganized after what we have been through,” said Thais Iwamoto, 26, from Sydney, Australia.

“Accidents happen, but the way they treat us, that’s not what it’s supposed to be.”

Despite their shock, the flyers said they were ignored as crews only tended to the 50 injured — at least one seriously — when an unspecified “technical event” caused the Boeing 787 to suddenly drop dramatically, sending some onboard slamming into the ceiling.

One woman claimed she had to step in and help a fellow passenger who broke two ribs and injured her shoulder because the injured woman did not speak English, and LATAM Airlines didn’t have translators.

“We were all traumatized and we had to find strength to help people out,” said Clara Azevedo, 28.

“But this is not our responsibility, it is LATAM’s — but they haven’t done anything,” she said. 

“That’s very frustrating.”

Others onboard the tumultuous flight said they were left without clear instructions from the Chile-based airline once they arrived in New Zealand — even after officials vowed to provide them with overnight accommodations and book the passengers on another flight to their final destination of Santiago, Chile.

“They also reiterate their commitment to safety as an uncompromising value within its operational standards,” the airline said.

It also sent an email to passengers onboard flight LA800, offering to reimburse them for any expenses they incurred during the crisis, according to the Herald.

“We are committed, and it is our top priority to assist all our passengers,” airline officials wrote in the email, obtained by the Herald.

“We want to assure you that we are here to support you.”

However, the airline has not yet agreed to reimburse airfare for the trip, according to the Herald.

The Post has also reached out to LATAM Airlines for comment.

It remains unclear what caused the plane to suddenly drop through the sky on Monday.

New Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Commission announced Tuesday it was seizing the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder to help investigate the latest issue to befall a Boeing jet.

The agency said it was assisting Chilean authorities, who have the ultimate responsibility to investigate as its nation’s airline was in international airspace at the time.

The flight was just about an hour outside of Auckland from Sydney when “all of a sudden, the plane just dropped out of the sky,” passenger Brian Jokat told New Zealand news outlet Stuff.

The sudden jerk caused passengers and flight attendants who were not wearing seat belts to fly through the cabin, those onboard have said.

Video posted online from the flight also showed one person lying unconscious in the middle of the aisle as others held their heads in apparent pain and shock.

Thirteen people were transported to a local hospital, but the majority were discharged soon after, and only one passenger and one crew member needed additional attention “but without any life-threatening risks.”

As of Tuesday, just four passengers remained in the hospital, according to the Herald.