23-6-2024 (SEOUL) A harrowing incident unfolded on Saturday as a Korean Air flight operating a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft was forced to make an emergency return to Incheon, South Korea, shortly after departure. The dramatic turn of events was triggered by an abnormality in the cabin pressurization system, prompting the crew to take swift action and descend rapidly from an altitude exceeding 30,000 feet to approximately 9,000 feet.
According to official reports, the sudden pressure change caused discomfort and health issues for some passengers, with at least two individuals experiencing nosebleeds. The South Korean government confirmed that 15 passengers complained of ear pain and excessive breathing, with 13 requiring medical attention. Fortunately, no severe injuries were reported among the affected passengers.
The flight, identified as KE189, was carrying 125 passengers and departed from Incheon International Airport at 4.45 pm on Saturday, bound for Taichung’s Qingquan Airport. Approximately 50 minutes into the flight, while flying over Jeju Island, the aircraft’s pressurization system issued an error report, prompting the captain to make the decision to turn the aircraft around. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 ultimately landed safely back at Incheon at 7.38 pm.
A Taiwanese female passenger took to social media to recount her terrifying experience, painting a vivid picture of the chaos that ensued within the cabin. She described how the plane suddenly dropped shortly after the meal service, causing intense turbulence akin to experiencing five times the gravity of a roller coaster ride. The oxygen masks were deployed, and the passenger suffered severe pain in her ears and head, accompanied by dizziness, while children on board began crying in distress.
The cabin crew swiftly attended to the situation, securing the meal service and distributing oxygen masks to passengers. Upon landing at Incheon Airport, the passenger expressed relief and gratitude for being alive after enduring such a harrowing ordeal.
In the aftermath of the incident, Korean Air has issued an apology and is actively investigating the specifics of the flight’s return to ensure necessary maintenance measures are taken. Passengers affected by the incident have been accommodated on an alternative flight scheduled for Sunday morning to continue their journey to their intended destination.
