A PLANE plunged nearly 27,000ft in just minutes injuring 17 passengers and leaving them scrambling for oxygen masks.
The Korean Air Boeing 737 Max 8 departed from Incheon International Airport, near South Korean capital Seoul, at 4.45pm on Saturday for a trip to Taiwan.
InstagramPassengers on board the terrifying flight suffered from eardrum pain and more[/caption]
InstagramPassengers were screaming in agony as they used oxygen masks[/caption]
But before it could make it to Taichung International Airport, a fault with pressure meant the plane dropped 26,900ft in just 15 minutes.
The staggering drop, which was recorded on FlightRadar, took place as the plane soared across Jeju – South Korea’s largest island.
Around 50 minutes into the flight, the plane suffered a pressure drop, according to local outlet JoongAng Daily.
There were 125 passengers on the KE189 flight and while Korean Airlines said 17 were injured none were seriously hurt.
Passengers suffered eardrum pain and hyperventilation.
The problem meant the plane circled back to its start point in South Korea, around three hours later at 7.38pm.
The flight continued the next morning with a different plane almost 19 hours after the original schedule.
In a statement, Korean Air said: “We are fully cooperating with all relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“We have provided comprehensive support to affected passengers, including accommodation, meals, and transportation arrangements.”
Passengers on some of the planes manufactured by Boeing have recently suffered a spate of ill-fated journeys.
In May, a horrific Singapore Airlines plane that plunged 7,000 ft tragically killed Brit Geoff Kitchen, a granddad aged 73.
The deadly six-minute drop saw others “launch into the ceiling”.
Flight SQ321 took off from London‘s Heathrow shortly after 10pm on Monday May 21, with 211 passengers and 18 crew on board – including 47 Brits.
Almost 11 hours into the 13-hour journey to Singapore, the packed jet was smashed by sudden “severe turbulence” while travellers were eating breakfast, officials said.
In a statement, Korean Air said: “Our commitment to the safety and well-being of our passengers and crew remains unchanged.
“We apologise to all affected by this incident.”
AlamyKorean Air has apologised for its Saturday flight to Taiwan that had to be diverted[/caption]
Sky high chaos: a timeline of Boeing-related incidents
BOEING has found itself at the centre of increasingly concerning reports in recent months thanks to alleged malfunctions on some of its planes.
April 2018- Woman dies after being partially sucked out of window on Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 flight
October 2018 – Boeing 737 MAX 8 Indonesia Lion Air fatal crash leaves 189 dead
March 2019 – Boeing 737 MAX 8 Ethiopia Airlines fatal crash leaves 157 dead
January 2024 – Boeing 747 Delta Airlines plane loses front tyre
January 2024 – Boeing Alaska Airlines ripped window leaving gaping hole in the plane
March 2024 – Wheel falls off Boeing 777 United Airlines plane smashing cars below
March 2024 – Boeing 787 LATAM LA800 took a “sudden nose-dive” leaving 50 injured
April 2024- Boeing 737 engine cover ripped off mid-air
April 2024 – Wheel falls off and smoke billows from Boeing 737 FlySafair FA212 in South Africa
April 2024- Boeing 747 Lufthansa Airlines seen bouncing along the runway in another huge safety blunder.
May 2024 – Boeing 767 FedEx plane nosedives on runway due to front landing gear failure
May 2024- A 737 with 50 passengers on board was forced into an emergency landing in Japan just minutes after take-off
June 2024- Boeing 737-800 makes a heartstopping botched takeoff from Turkey leaving Brits fearing for their lives