CTTO
TAICHUNG, Taiwan – Passengers on Korean Airlines Flight KE189 safely arrived in Taichung on June 23 after an emergency diversion the previous day due to a pressurization system fault. The incident resulted in 13 passengers being taken to the hospital, according to media reports.
The flight, carrying 125 passengers, departed from Incheon International Airport at around 4:45 pm local time on June 22. Approximately 50 minutes into the flight, a warning indicated a fault in the pressurization system of the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, reported Korea JoongAng Daily. The pressurization system regulates the pressure inside the aircraft to ensure passenger comfort and safety.
Data from flight tracking website Flightradar24 showed that the plane descended about 26,900 feet in 15 minutes following the warning. The aircraft then circled back to Incheon International Airport, landing around 7:40 pm, about three hours after takeoff.
According to Korea JoongAng Daily, citing the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation, 15 passengers experienced hyperventilation or ear pain, and 13 were hospitalized upon landing. No major injuries were reported.
The flight resumed on the morning of June 23 with a different aircraft, about 19 hours after the initial departure. A Korean Air spokesperson stated that the airline is investigating the cause of the diversion and plans to put the affected aircraft under maintenance after an inspection.
Passengers, who arrived at Taichung International Airport at 12:24 pm local time, recounted their frightening experience. Mr. Tseng, one of the passengers, described the panic when oxygen masks were released, with children crying and fears that the plane might crash. Another passenger, Ms. Hsu, noted that she felt something was wrong as the aircraft seemed to hover in the air while flight attendants remained seated.
The incident has raised concerns among passengers, with some expressing hesitation about flying in the near future.
