A Korean Air flight bound for Taiwan had to return to Incheon airport in South Korea after experiencing a sudden depressurization issue on the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, as reported by the transport ministry on Tuesday. Out of the 133 passengers on board the flight, 19 individuals were taken to hospitals for ear pain and nosebleeds, although no serious injuries were reported.
The exact cause of the problem is currently under investigation, leading to the grounding of the aircraft. Additionally, South Korea's transport ministry has mandated all 11 airlines in the country to inspect the pressurization systems of their 400 aircraft fleet as a precautionary measure.
The incident of depressurization occurred approximately 50 minutes after the flight's departure, prompting swift action from the airline and authorities.
In a separate event, Malaysia Airlines faced a similar issue when one of its flights en route to Bangkok had to return to Kuala Lumpur due to a pressurization problem on the Airbus A-330 aircraft. Despite the emergency descent initiated by the pilots, the oxygen masks were not deployed as the aircraft had not reached an altitude of 8,000 feet. The flight, carrying 164 passengers and 12 crew members, was safely brought back to the departure airport.
An investigation is currently underway to determine the root cause of the pressurization issue on the Malaysia Airlines flight, ensuring the safety of future flights.
The Boeing 737 Max series has been marred by a troubled history, with fatal crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia in 2018 and 2019, respectively, leading to a global grounding of the aircraft by regulatory authorities, including the FAA. Recent concerns resurfaced after a panel detachment incident on a 737 Max during an Alaska Airlines flight in January, although no serious injuries were reported in that particular event.
