Monday, June 24, 2024 A Korean Air flight bound for Taiwan had to turn back and make an emergency landing due to a pressurization system fault detected shortly after departing from Incheon International Airport. The Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft took off at 4:45 pm local time on Saturday but encountered issues over South Korea’s Jeju Island. Approximately 30 minutes into the flight, the plane started a rapid descent, dropping nearly 7,600 meters (25,000 feet) in just five minutes, according to FlightRadar24 data.
Videos shared on social media showed the cabin shaking, with oxygen masks deployed. Reports from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport indicated that 15 passengers experienced hyperventilation and ear pain during the descent. Korean Air mentioned that 17 passengers were assessed at medical facilities but were later discharged without serious injuries.
The airline confirmed that the aircraft, almost five years old, was delivered to Korean Air in July 2022. Passengers affected by the incident were safely flown to Taichung International Airport via an alternate flight on Sunday, as reported by the Taipei Times. This incident adds to a recent series of emergency landings, including a Malaysia Airlines plane that returned to Hyderabad, India, due to an engine fire, and a United Airlines flight from Connecticut to Colorado, which turned back after a piece of its engine cover fell off during takeoff.
Boeing aircraft have encountered various issues in recent mont.
