South Korea To Review Low-Cost Airlines After A Jin Air Flight Made An Emergency Landing And Return To The Philippines Shortly After Takeoff
Six low-cost airlines will be reviewed by South Korean authorities after a Jin Air flight bound to Busan was forced to make an emergency landing shortly after it took off Sunday. Yahoo! News noted Monday that the aircraft returned to the Philippines 40 minutes after it took off after it was found that one of its doors was leaking air.
Reports revealed that the Boeing 737-800 belongs to Jin Air Co., a low-cost airline operated by Korean Air. 163 passengers were onboard when the aircraft made an emergency landing due to safety concerns.
"All low-cost carriers will undergo an overall inspection of their safety management to prevent similar accidents," South Korea's transport ministry said in a dispatch.
On the other hand, the company said they have not found a failing in the aircraft after conducting an initial examination. Although no passengers were harmed, most of them suffered headaches and earaches due to the loud noise that they heard after the plane took off.
The noise alerted and compelled the pilot to return to the Philippines and make an emergency landing.
"It seems that the noise was caused by wind coming through a small gap in the door, which had not been closed properly," a spokesman from Jin Air said, as reported by The Chosunilbo Monday. "An alarm signaled a problem with air pressure, so we decided to return to Cebu."
All passengers were given free hotel accommodations before they took off to Busan 15 hours after the incident. Also, Jin Air said each passenger will be compensated with $84 (100,000 won).
Meanwhile, an official from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said the aircraft will undergo investigation after the incident.
"We will investigate the maintenance and operation records of the plane," the official stated. "If any regulations were violated, we will fine the airline."
