Korean Air Flight KE189 decompression incident
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Korean Air Flight KE189 decompression incident
13 passengers hospitalized after Korean Air flight drops 26,900 feet mid-flight
3 passengers were taken to a hospital after a Korean Air flight dropped 26,900 feet mid-flight due to a fault in the aircraft’s pressurization sys tem.Flight KE189 departed Seoul’s Incheon International Airport (ICN) on June 22, 2024 at about 16:45 local time, headed for Taichung International Airport (RMQ) in Taiwan.
50 minutes into the flight, the B737 MAX experienced a sudden uncontrolled decompression. According to FL360aero, the message “pressure s ystem (pressure control function of the aircraft) abnormality” was displayed while the aircraft was flying over Jeju Island.
According to data from flight tracking website Flightradar24, the aircraft fell about 26,900 feet in around 15 minutes. The aircraft, carrying 125 passengers, was able to return to ICN Airport at approximately 19:40 local time.
One of the passengers onboard the flight was able to capture footage inside the cabin, showing that the oxygen masks had all dropped from overhead.According to data from flight tracking website Flightradar24, the aircraft fell about 26,900 feet in around 15 minutes. The aircraft, carrying 125 passengers, was able to return to ICN Airport at approximately 19:40 local time.
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/ea...due-to-a-fault
https://www.businessinsider.com/kore...al-2024-6?op=1 (video links within article)
https://www.businessinsider.com/kore...al-2024-6?op=1 (video links within article)
So the aircraft "FELL" 26,900ft in 15 mins. That's less than 2000fpm. It's not a fall it's a controlled descent. Not even an emergency descent as that would be 4000 + fpm.
How many Pax went to hospital? 3 or 13?
It would appear that the aircraft had a pressurization fault and things worked out as designed.
Have you ever paid attention to the safety briefing from the cabin crew when they say, "In the event of a loss of cabin pressure, masks will drop from the overhead panel .....",
And where was the TURBULENCE?
OK, OK, I bit on the "Click Bait".
Didn't see BonnieLass's post until I had posted.
How many Pax went to hospital? 3 or 13?
It would appear that the aircraft had a pressurization fault and things worked out as designed.
Have you ever paid attention to the safety briefing from the cabin crew when they say, "In the event of a loss of cabin pressure, masks will drop from the overhead panel .....",
And where was the TURBULENCE?
OK, OK, I bit on the "Click Bait".
Didn't see BonnieLass's post until I had posted.
What a violent, sudden and endless fall!
Terrorized passengers sunk in their seats with cold sweat all over!
Sharks were seen through the open doors, attracted by the blood in the cabin!
Seriously, let's wait for a trustworthy summary. Maybe there's some beef behind the headlines.
Terrorized passengers sunk in their seats with cold sweat all over!
Sharks were seen through the open doors, attracted by the blood in the cabin!
Seriously, let's wait for a trustworthy summary. Maybe there's some beef behind the headlines.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Unless there is more to this, it's a non-event. Sudden decompression would have been an emergency descent and as dixi says, a much greater rate of descent. This seems like a "fault" rather than a "failure", and descending to below 10,000' makes good sense.
Pegase Driver
Well other reports talk about 25.000ft in 5 minutes, or 5000 ft/min which would be more consistent with a standard emergency descent and the ear issues ( if proven correct) reported by some pax.
What does FR24 says ?
What does FR24 says ?
According to the first post, above, FR24 says 15 minutes. But, yeah, the reported health issues and —according to some reporting — hospitalizations are more consistent with an emergency descent. And presumably there's some reason for all the silly headlines about the airplane "dropping" 25K feet.
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They flew back to Incheon after the descent instead of landing immediately at Jeju. So logically it must have been undamaged hence no explosive or sudden depressurisation. Which only leaves a cabin pressure controller or pack problem.
Just out of interest, if the cabin pressurisation system failed (I know it's extremely unlikely), how long would it take for the pressure to drop to external values? I also assume there's all sorts of warning bells and whistles to let the sharp end know there's a problem before it requires a "plummet"? (Gotta love that word).
From FR24, accuracy unknown.
According to the first post, above, FR24 says 15 minutes. But, yeah, the reported health issues and —according to some reporting — hospitalizations are more consistent with an emergency descent. And presumably there's some reason for all the silly headlines about the airplane "dropping" 25K feet.
I wouldn't give it too much credence.
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Looking at several of the reports, some use "hospitalization" and other "taken to hospital".
To me the former implies the need for inpatient care (if only for observation), while the latter might just mean a quick checkup at A&E (UK terminology).
To me the former implies the need for inpatient care (if only for observation), while the latter might just mean a quick checkup at A&E (UK terminology).
Unless the aircraft was dispatched with MEL items, ( accepted not possible on ER or ETOPS flights) a singular failure of an air conditioning pack, pressurization control or outflow valve actuator should not present the need for a rapid decent which was indeed needed, as shown by O2 mask drop out.
Loss of pressurization at cruise is very unlikely unless the hull has been bridged.
I have flown on standard single pack Gulfsteams at over 40,000' and failure of that pack leaves no alternative action.
Loss of pressurization at cruise is very unlikely unless the hull has been bridged.
I have flown on standard single pack Gulfsteams at over 40,000' and failure of that pack leaves no alternative action.
Pretty steep.
FlightAware track log (times in EDT): https://www.flightaware.com/live/fli.../RKSI/tracklog
FlightAware track log (times in EDT): https://www.flightaware.com/live/fli.../RKSI/tracklog
Last edited by OldnGrounded; 25th Jun 2024 at 15:49. Reason: Fix broken quote tag
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Well, in round numbers it's 25K feet in about seven minutes (if my old eyes are tracking the rows and columns properly). Not a "plummet" and not "falling" out of the sky, but no time was lost getting down to thicker air.
SQUAWKIDENT is correct that it's not an accident or close call, but it is an interesting incident. And I doubt that the OP knowingly posted clickbait. But please include sources and links, folks.
SQUAWKIDENT is correct that it's not an accident or close call, but it is an interesting incident. And I doubt that the OP knowingly posted clickbait. But please include sources and links, folks.