Watch: Korean Air flight drops 25,000 feet mid-air, passengers share harrowing experience
Korean Air plane
A loss of cabin pressure on a Korean Air aircraft from Seoul to Taichung necessitated the plane to take an emergency U-turn. Passengers and staff members panicked as the aircraft, a Boeing 737 Max 8 carrying flight KE189, dropped more than 25,000 feet.
The flight, scheduled to arrive at Taichung International Airport (RMQ) in Taiwan tookoff on June 22, 2024, at around 16:45 local time from Seoul's Incheon International Airport (ICN). After travelling for around 50 minutes, the aircraft started to drop quickly, which unnerved the passengers.
The plane descended around 26,900 feet from its cruise altitude in 15 minutes. Oxygen masks automatically deployed as the cabin pressure dropped.
An Instagram user aboard the airplane recorded the aftermath of the frightening descent. She wrote in the caption, “Motions are too complicated…Just want to say it’s good to be alive now…”
The video shows everyone every passenger wearing oxygen masks in case of emergency.
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Severe symptoms including nosebleeds, ear acheand hyperventilation were reported by passengers. “The children were crying, and everyone was scared,” a passenger told The Taipei Times.
Another passenger reported that something was wrong when flight attendants, who are typically busy serving, remained belted in their seats.
The plane successfully landed later at Taichung International Airport after conducting the emergency descent and changing course to return to Taiwan. Emergency services were on standby.
Seventeen passengers were sent to local medical institutions for examination. According to accounts from local health officials, all were eventually discharged without significant injuries.
Korean Air apologised to passengers and their families following the accident. “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,” the airline said in a statement.
(With inputs from agencies)
