Korean Air, an airline that has garnered a reputation on social media for its “Shin Ramyun” instant noodles, will stop serving the snack due to a reported doubling of turbulence induced incidents on-board flights since 2019.
Starting 15 August this year, the carrier will omit the noodles from economy class due to its hot contents as it is served with boiling water. First and business class customers will continue to be offered the cup of noodles however. As economy passengers are seated so close together, the risk is greater.
“This decision is part of proactive safety measures in response to increased turbulence, aimed at preventing burn accidents,” Korean Air said in a recent statement. The airline has been serving the light meal free of charge to passengers on long haul flights for some time, but they will now be replaced with “Hot Pockets”, pastry turnovers filled with meat, cheese and vegetables, along with sandwiches, corn dogs and pizza.
In addition to mitigating the risk of accidents, Korean Air have also announced that they will terminate cabin service on mid-length and long routes 20 minutes earlier, meaning now forty minutes before landing.
The change has evoked debate on social media with some users arguing that some common flight refreshments can also cause burns. “Aren’t coffee and tea hot?” one person asked, whereas another user referred to the change as a “very good decision” following prior fears of being burnt by the hot snack. Another relieved respondent remarked on the bothersome smell of the noodles. The airline issued a response saying it will “continue to seek service methods that are safe while increasing customer convenience and satisfaction”.
Korean Air is not the first carrier to announce changes in line with turbulence issues. Earlier this year, a Singapore Airlines flight SQ 321 from London Heathrow to Singapore saw the death of one passenger and injuries to 71 more following a major turbulence incident. The Boeing 777 plummeted almost 2,000 metres in three minutes, causing multiple head injuries as individuals were thrown out of their seats and around the cabin. The aircraft was subsequently diverted to Bangkok where medical teams evaluated and assisted over 80 passengers to hospital. The airline has disclosed they would stop serving hot meals and drinks when posed with turbulence in an attempt to be more cautious.
The issue with turbulence is that it is very hard to predict. According to the US National Weather Service it is “caused by abrupt, irregular movements of air that create sharp, quick updrafts/downdrafts. These updrafts and downdrafts occur in combinations and move aircraft unexpectedly.”
