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.
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.”
BOEING has found itself at the centre of increasingly concerning reports in recent months thanks to alleged malfunctions on some of its planes.
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