Passenger's family emergency causes one-hour delay for Cheongju-Jeju flight

A Jin Air flight bound for Jeju from Cheongju International Airport experienced a significant delay on Tuesday morning after a passenger's urgent personal circumstances necessitated their removal from the aircraft. The flight, LJ401, was preparing to taxi to the runway when the incident occurred.

The passenger, identified as being in their 40s, approached the crew shortly before departure. They requested to deplane immediately, citing that their father was in a critical condition due to a pre-existing illness. The flight crew, adhering to safety regulations, granted the passenger's request.

Following the passenger's deplaning, standard security procedures were initiated. As a precautionary measure against potential threats, police and the National Intelligence Service were involved to verify the passenger's identity and conduct a thorough search of their seat area and the surrounding cabin. This security check is a mandatory protocol when a passenger disembarks after the aircraft has begun its departure preparations.

After the completion of all necessary security checks, the aircraft, carrying 191 passengers, was cleared for takeoff. The flight eventually departed at approximately 12:25 PM, about an hour later than its scheduled departure time of 11:25 AM. The incident caused a disruption to the flight schedule but was managed according to established safety and security protocols.