Investigators Say Wrong Switch Jolted 737 Flight

One person was injured after a pilot mistakenly activated the left rudder trim switch instead of the flight deck door switch.

Caleb Revill

Monday, December 02, 2024 at 04:57 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Kimberly Johnson

A Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800 [Credit: Shutterstock/ Ryan Fletcher]

Key Takeaways:

A Virgin Australia Boeing 737 experienced an in-flight upset when a pilot accidentally activated full left rudder trim instead of the flight deck door switch, causing the aircraft to roll significantly and injuring a cabin crew member.
The investigation by the ATSB found that the error was due to the close proximity and similar operation of the rudder trim and flight deck door switches.
Virgin Australia has since implemented changes to its flight deck door entry procedures and flight crew briefings in response to the incident.
A nearly identical incident occurred on an All Nippon Airways Boeing 737 a decade earlier, highlighting a recurring safety concern regarding similar switch designs.

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An “in-flight upset” aboard a Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800 in September 2023 resulted in a cabin crewmember receiving minor injuries and prompted the airline to implement changes to its flight deck door entry procedures.

According to an investigation of the incident released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) on Friday, the pilot accidentally activated full left rudder trim when they meant to activate the flight deck door switch during a flight from Brisbane, Australia, to Melbourne.