An Air Premia aircraft heading to Los Angeles, U.S., from Incheon made an emergency return due to an emergency patient.

According to the airline industry on the 21st, at 12:50 p.m. on the 20th, the Air Premia flight YP101 heading from Incheon to Los Angeles returned to Incheon International Airport after about 5 hours of takeoff. The emergency patient, a cabin crew member, showed symptoms of paralysis, and a doctor on board reportedly took emergency measures.

The return flight path of Air Premia aircraft YP101 shown on the aircraft flight tracking site FLIGHTRADAR24. /Courtesy of Internet FLIGHTRADAR24 capture

The flight that returned to Incheon Airport replaced all crew members, including the captain, and departed again for LA at 1:19 a.m. on the 21st. Aviation law restricts the maximum flying hours of the captain and crew. An Air Premia official noted, "There will be no additional delays for the flight (YP101) that was delayed for 12 hours and the returning flight (YP102) from LA to Incheon."

Of the 215 passengers on board the flight, 10 chose to forgo boarding at Incheon Airport after the emergency return.

An Air Premia official stated, "Due to the flight delay, we provided hotel and meal coupons to returning flight passengers and offered transportation and accommodation fees to those who gave up boarding."

Emergency returns of aircraft due to emergency patients occur frequently. Last July, an Air Premia flight from New York to Incheon made an emergency return to Tokyo Haneda Airport due to an emergency patient.