Boeing and its 737 Max are experiencing a new series of incidents. This time it is Korean Air flight KAL189, which was supposed to connect Seoul in South Korea to Taichung in Taiwan, which was forced to turn back due to a cabin pressurization problem. This situation caused a sudden loss of altitude, resulting in injuries to several passengers on board.
A brutal incident causing 17 injuries
On Saturday, June 22, a Korean Air plane suffered a major technical failure, resulting in a spectacular fall of nearly 27,000 feet (approximately 8,200 meters above sea level).
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 was flying over Jeju Island at an altitude of FL350 when the incident occurred. According to data from flight tracking site FlightAware, shortly after leaving the Korean peninsula, the plane suddenly lost altitude in less than 15 minutes.
According to the airline and the South Korean Ministry of Transport, the pilots voluntarily made this rapid descent due to a pressurization system failure that occurred 50 minutes after takeoff.
Such a major breakdown could have quickly turned into a tragedy. Indeed, without pressure regulation, the oxygen level would have dropped, leading to loss of consciousness.
As a reminder, similar incidents have already had tragic consequences, such as Helios Airways Flight 522, where 121 people died after fainting before the plane crashed due to lack of fuel.
17 injured on Korean Air flight KAL189
After making a U-turn without apparent damage, the passengers were taken care of. The scene was particularly traumatic for the many children on board, frightened by the release of the oxygen masks, reports the local press.
According to the same source, 17 passengers were injured during this incident. However, the Ministry of Transport clarified that “ 17 passengers were treated by medical professionals in Korea and released without serious injuries », adding that the pain was mainly due to the sudden change in cabin pressure and hyperventilation. Despite the incident, the passengers were able to reach Taiwan the next day aboard a chartered flight, which took place without incident.
Similar incidents have already had tragic consequences, such as Helios Airways Flight 522, where 121 people died after passing out before the plane crashed due to lack of fuel.
A hard blow for the Boeing company
As a reminder, for several months, the American aircraft manufacturer’s Boeing 737 has experienced significant incidents. Among the most notable was the loss of a door during an Alaska Airlines flight last January. We also noted another incident of this type which, fortunately, did not cause any injuries. It concerns a Korean Air plane which came into contact with a Cathay Pacific Airways plane at New Chitose airport, on the island of Hokkaido, in the north of Japan.
