Watch: Korean Air Boeing flight from Seoul to Taichung descends over 25,000 feet mid-air
Watch: Korean Air Boeing flight from Seoul to Taichung descends over 25,000 feet mid-air
In a harrowing mid-air incident, a Korean Air flight from Seoul to Taichung was forced to perform an emergency U-turn after experiencing a dramatic loss of cabin pressure. The aircraft, a Boeing 737 Max 8 operating as flight KE189, dropped more than 25,000 feet, triggering a panic among passengers and crew members.
According to reports, the flight took off from Seoul’s Incheon International Airport (ICN) on June 22, 2024, at approximately 16:45 local time, bound for Taichung International Airport (RMQ) in Taiwan. About 50 minutes into the journey, passengers felt an unsettling shift as the aircraft began to descend rapidly.
Within a span of 15 minutes, the plane dropped from its cruising altitude by about 26,900 ft. As the pressure in the cabin fell, oxygen masks were deployed automatically, and a scene of distress unfolded.
The aftermath of the terrifying descent was shared by an Instagram user who was on the flight. In the video, she wrote, “motions are too complicated...Just want to say it's good to be alive now…”
The video shows how everyone was wearing the emergency oxygen masks and how they had to get off the aircraft for the same.
Watch the video below:
Passengers reported experiencing severe symptoms such as hyperventilation, ear pain, and nosebleeds. "The children were crying, and everyone was scared," recounted a passenger to The Taipei Times. Another traveller mentioned sensing something was amiss when flight attendants, usually busy serving, stayed buckled in their seats.
Executing an emergency descent and reversing course to return to Taiwan, the aircraft landed safely at Taichung International Airport, where emergency responders were on standby.
Seventeen passengers were taken to nearby medical facilities for evaluation. Fortunately, all were later discharged without any serious injuries, according to reports from local health officials, many reports stated.
In the aftermath of the incident, Korean Air issued an apology to the passengers and their families. The airline said, "We are fully cooperating with all relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. We have given the impacted travellers complete support, which includes lodging, food, and travel plans.”
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