Korean Air halts inflight services 40 minutes before landing for passenger safety
Korean Air has suspended inflight services 40 minutes before landing for medium and long-haul flights, in the wake of the deadly turbulence that killed one and injured dozens on a Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight in May.
The rule took effect on July 1, the same day that South Korea’s largest airline announced the measure.
The Korea Times said the move is meant to give cabin crew more time to focus on the safety of passengers and their own before descent, when accidents are most likely to occur.
Previously, cabin services were to stop 20 minutes before landing – after planes typically begin descending.
Turbulence is especially common during descent as the plane encounters large temperature differences between altitudes, the airline said.
Rough weather is becoming more common, with the incidence of turbulence doubling in the first quarter of 2024 compared with the same period in 2019, it added.
On May 21, SIA Flight SQ321 from London to Singapore encountered what the carrier described as sudden, extreme turbulence while flying over Myanmar, with people and objects flung to the ceiling.
A 73-year-old British passenger died of a suspected heart attack and dozens of people were hurt, with some sustaining spinal cord, brain and skull injuries.
The plane carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew was diverted to Bangkok for an emergency landing.