Pilots of a Korean Air flight were forced to U-turn and make an emergency landing after the plane dropped nearly 25,000ft into the air in just five minutes.
The flight took off from Incheon International Airport in South Korea on June 22 at 4.45pm local time, and was meant to reach Taiwan.
But only half an hour into its journey, the Boeing 737 Max 8 plane started descending sharply, data from FlightRadar24 showed.
This prompted oxygen masks to be released, as suggested by pictures shared on social media by passengers.
A pressurisation fault was detected while the plane was flying over South Korea’s southern Jeju Island, according to Yonhap News Agency.
The major mid-air shock caused a number of injuries, although none were reported to be severe.
Among those aboard, 15 passengers were reported to have suffered eardrum pain and hyperventilation during the flight descent, the agency said citing information from the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
A Korean Air spokesperson told Business Insider: “We are fully cooperating with all relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.”
They added 17 passengers had been evaluated at medical facilities and were all discharged without severe injuries.
The Boeing 737 Max 8 plane, the spokesperson added, is just under five years old and was delivered to the airline in July 2022.
They also said: “Our commitment to the safety and well-being of our passengers and crew remains unchanged. We apologise to all affected by this incident.”
The passengers aboard this plane were taken to Taiwan aboard a different flight, according to the Taipei Times.
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