A Korean Air flight bound for Taiwan faced a malfunction with the pressurization system, leading to the hospitalization of 13 out of 125 passengers.
The plane descended from the height of 35,000 feet to 9,000 feet within the span of ten minutes due to sudden uncontrollable decompression just 50 minutes into the flight.
The pressurization system is responsible for regulating the internal pressure of an aircraft.
The plane was returned to the Incheon International Airport, where it departed from.
15 passengers suffered from eardrum pain and hyperventilation during the descent. Among them, 13 were taken to a hospital, reported Yohap News Agency.
Six crew members and six passengers travelling on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Dublin suffered injuries during a severe bout of turbulence on Sunday.
However, the flight landed safely and as scheduled, according to officials at the Dublin Airport.
“Upon landing, the aircraft was met by emergency services, including airport police and our fire and rescue department, due to six passengers and six crew [12 total] on board reporting injuries after the aircraft experienced turbulence while airborne over Turkiye,” the airport authorities explained in a statement.
NBC News talked to the passengers arriving at the airport and described the incident as frightening. “Just food all over the plane, on the ceiling, everywhere,” one of the passengers said.
Qatar Airways said in a statement that a “small number” of passengers and crew sustained minor injuries during the flight and were receiving medical attention.
The airline did not directly comment on the turbulence.”The matter is now subject to an internal investigation,” the statement read.
The incident happened nearly a week after a Singapore Airlines flight from Heathrow Airport hit severe turbulence over the Indian Ocean leaving one passenger dead and 20 others injured.
Scientists blame climate change for increased air turbulence incidents.
