In a horrific mid-air accident, a Korean Air flight from Seoul to Taichung was forced to make an emergency U-turn after a sudden loss of cabin pressure. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane, operating as Flight KE189, dropped more than 25,000 feet, causing panic among passengers and crew.
According to reports, the plane was in Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) On June 22, 2024, at approximately 16:45 local time, a plane bound for Taichung International Airport (RMQ) in Taiwan took off. About 50 minutes into the flight, the aircraft began to descend rapidly and passengers felt an unsettling movement.
Within 15 minutes, the plane had descended from its cruising altitude to about 26,900 feet. As the cabin lost pressure, oxygen masks automatically deployed, putting the plane in a predicament.
The terrifying descent was shared by an Instagram user who was on board the plane, who wrote in the video: “The movements are too complicated… I just want to say that I’m glad to be alive…”
The video shows everyone putting on emergency oxygen masks, which meant they had to leave the plane.
Check out the video below:
Passengers reported experiencing severe symptoms including hyperventilation, ear pain and nosebleeds. “The kids were crying and we were all scared,” one passenger told the Taipei Times. Another passenger said she thought something was odd about the flight attendants keeping their seat belts fastened while they were usually busy serving passengers.
An emergency descent was performed and the plane was redirected back to Taiwan, where it landed safely. Taichung International AirportEmergency responders were on standby.
The 17 passengers were taken to a nearby medical facility for examination, and local health officials reported that thankfully, none of them sustained serious injuries and were released from hospital, according to multiple reports.
Following the incident, Korean Air apologized to the passengers and their families. The company said, “We are fully cooperating with the relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. We are providing affected travelers with full support, including accommodation, meals and travel planning.”
