'Extreme rollercoaster': Flyers on Korean Air Flight KE189 suffer nosebleeds, ear pain after cabin pressure malfunctions

A Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft operated by Korean Air encountered a malfunction in its cabin pressurisation system shortly after takeoff from Incheon International Airport in Seoul, South Korea. The incident occurred on Flight KE189, which was headed to Taichung, Taiwan, on Saturday afternoon, according to the New York Post.
Approximately 50 minutes into the flight, while the Korean Air Flight KE189 was over Jeju Island, the pressurisation system reported an error.The captain made the decision to return to Incheon, and the aircraft safely landed at 7.38 pm. As a result of the malfunction, the Boeing 737 MAX 8 had to quickly descend from an altitude of over 30,000 feet to around 9,000 feet, Yonhap News Agency reported.
The rapid descent caused significant discomfort and health issues for some of the 125 passengers on board. At least two passengers experienced nosebleeds, while an additional 15 complained of ear pain and hyperventilation. One passenger described the sudden drops in altitude as being similar to the G-force experienced on an extreme rollercoaster. In total, 13 passengers required medical attention, but no serious injuries were reported.
A Taiwanese woman shared her harrowing ordeal on social media after experiencing severe turbulence on a flight. Shortly after the meal service, the aircraft abruptly lost altitude, causing chaos in the cabin.
The passenger suffered from intense ear and head pain, along with dizziness, while children on the plane started to cry. The flight attendants quickly responded, securing the meal service and providing oxygen masks to the passengers. As soon as the plane touched down at Incheon Airport, the passenger expressed her immense relief and thankfulness for surviving the ordeal.
In response to the incident, Korean Air has issued an apology and has initiated a comprehensive investigation to ascertain the reason behind the pressurization system malfunction. The airline is also implementing essential maintenance procedures to avoid similar occurrences in the future. Passengers affected by the incident have been provided with an alternate flight on Sunday morning to resume their travel to Taichung.