Hundreds of Boeing 787 Dreamliners will need to be inspected following the crash, which injured dozens of passengers.
The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement Tuesday that it would issue an airworthiness directive for certain 787 jets.
The regulations apply to more than 700 Dreamliners worldwide, about 65 percent of the 1,138 Dreamliners delivered, with 158 of the planes subject to inspections registered in the United States.
Airlines have been ordered to inspect pilots’ seats, especially for missing or damaged switch caps and switch cover assemblies.
The directive comes after a Boeing 787 operated by Chilean airline LATAM suddenly fell 400ft during a flight between Sydney and Auckland in March.
Auckland Ambulance Service told the New Zealand Herald they treated around 50 injured passengers, 10 of whom were taken to hospital.
Chilean investigators said in a preliminary report in April that the captain’s seat had moved forward involuntarily, and included photos showing a loose switch cover.
The company added that bad weather or turbulence was not a factor.
The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed U.S. officials, reported that a flight attendant may have accidentally pressed a switch in the cockpit that pushed the pilot back toward the controls, causing the plane to pitch downward.
Under FAA directives, affected operators are required to inspect their aircraft within 30 days and take any necessary corrective measures.
“We fully support the FAA’s airworthiness directive requiring supplier guidance to 787 operators,” Boeing said in a statement shared with Business Insider.
The company also said the seat manufacturer sent a service bulletin to 787 operators in July outlining inspection procedures for the issue.
Three U.S. airlines operate the 787: American Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and United Airlines.
The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider outside local business hours.