On June 22, 2024, a Korean Air Boeing 737 MAX 8 flight encountered a severe mid-flight emergency, leading to the rapid descent of the aircraft. Thirteen passengers required hospitalization after the incident, which was triggered by a fault in the aircraft’s pressurization system.
Flight KE189 departed from Seoul’s Incheon International Airport (ICN) at 4:45 PM local time, bound for Taichung International Airport (RMQ) in Taiwan. About 50 minutes into the flight, the Boeing 737 MAX experienced an uncontrolled decompression. According to FL360aero, a message indicating an “abnormality in the pressure system” was displayed while flying over Jeju Island.
In response to the sudden loss of cabin pressurization, the flight crew initiated an emergency descent. Data from Flightradar24 shows that the aircraft descended approximately 26,900 feet in around 15 minutes. Despite the emergency, the crew successfully managed to return to ICN Airport, landing safely at about 7:40 PM local time with 125 passengers on board.
The dramatic descent caused significant distress among the passengers. One passenger captured video footage showing oxygen masks deployed from the overhead compartments. She later described the harrowing experience, stating she thought it would be her “last day on earth.”
South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transportation reported that 15 passengers suffered from hyperventilation or pain in their eardrums, and 13 were subsequently hospitalized upon landing.
Investigation and Safety Measures
Following the incident, Korean Air promptly rescheduled the flight for the following day, June 23, 2024. The airline’s spokesperson assured the media that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the pressurization fault. The affected aircraft will undergo thorough maintenance and a comprehensive safety inspection before returning to service.
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