The Latam Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane that suddenly lost altitude mid-flight is parked on the tarmac of Auckland airport in New Zealand. (Photo: AFP)

The Air Current, an aviation industry publication, reported on Wednesday that the movement of a flight deck seat is a key focus of the probe into Monday's flight.

Boeing said earlier on Friday that it had taken the precautionary measure of reminding operators of a service bulletin in 2017, detailing instructions for inspecting and maintaining flight deck seat switches.

The plane, which was heading from Sydney to Auckland on Monday, dropped abruptly before stabilizing, causing those on board to be thrown about the cabin.