17 Ekim 2010 Pazar

Low Cabin Pressure Forced Plane Back to Denver

Oxygen masks did not deploy, and six United passengers seem to have decided to go to the hospital

Tonight's 10:00 o'clock news included a report about a plane that returned to Denver late this afternoon due to low cabin pressure. According to "Pressurization Issue Forces Plane Back To Denver" from Channel 7, United flight 591 took off from Denver International Airport for Seattle shortly before 4:00 p.m. but soon returned to Denver because of what was described as "a pressurization problem." The Boeing 737 landed shortly after 5:00. Of the 121 passengers aboard, six went to the hospital -- they "opted to go to the hospital," according to the report. There were also three flight attendants and two pilots on board.

What makes this all seem to weird is that despite "the pressurization issue," the oxygen masks did not deploy. According to Channel 7, United Airlines spokeswoman Megan McCarthy, said "the situation was not one that would warrant the masks to drop."

Am I missing something when I wonder about the purpose of oxygen masks if not to deploy when cabin pressure drops? Or is United's latest revenue source going to be pay-to-use masks, perhaps like an oxygen bar? Of course, the aircraft was taken out of service until mechanics could inspect it fully. I can't wait for a followup to this story explaining what happened to cause pressure to drop in the first place and then why the oxygen masks not to drop. When the former drops, I would have assumed that the latter is supposed to drop as well.

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