This flight suddenly crashed 26,000 feet, injuring 17 passengers in the latest Boeing incident

According to the Korea JoongAng Daily, a Korean Air flight experienced a sudden drop in pressure on Saturday, causing earaches and hyperventilation in several passengers.

Flight KE189 departed Incheon Airport as scheduled and was en route to Taichung International Airport in Taiwan for about 50 minutes when it plunged about 26,246 feet and turned around to return to Incheon, according to FlightRadar24.

The incident occurred within about 10 minutes, the Taipei Times reported. A Korean Air spokesman said oxygen masks were deployed.

According to the Taipei Times, the cause of the incident was a fault in the Boeing 737 MAX 8’s pressurization system, but Korean Air did not confirm that detail to USA TODAY. The pressurization system on modern aircraft is usually automatic and activates immediately after takeoff. It pumps treated air into the cabin so passengers can breathe safely at high altitudes.

After the plane landed in Korea, 17 passengers were cared for by paramedics and all were discharged without serious injuries, Korean Air told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. The airline provided passengers with overnight lodging, meals and transportation.

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“We are fully cooperating with all relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances of the incident,” a Korean Air spokesman said.

“Our commitment to the safety and well-being of our passengers and crew remains unchanged. We apologize to everyone affected by this incident.”

The Korean Airlines incident occurred in the wake of another Boeing 737 Max 8 (flying for Southwest Airlines) on a flight from Phoenix to Oakland that experienced a taxiing error. No injuries were reported in that incident.

Boeing has come under increased scrutiny this year following the high-profile Alaska Airlines incident, which led to an investigation and increased oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Congress.

Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. Reach her at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Korean Air plane suddenly plunged 26,000 feet, injuring 17 passengers