A passenger plane operated by Romanian low cost airline Blue Air depressurized during a Brussels – Bucharest flight, but none of the 97 passengers on board were injured. Oxygen masks were automatically released, and the captain followed standard procedures and landed safely at Bucharest's main airport Otopeni.

The only problem for passengers was the strong visual impact of the oxygen mask release, but nobody was injured, said Blue Air spokesperson Florentina Tatu.

The airline will thoroughly check the plane to find the cause of the depressurization. Cabin pressurization is used to create a safe and comfortable environment for aircraft passengers and crew flying at high altitude by pumping conditioned air into the cabin. Any failure of cabin pressurization above 3,000 meters requires an emergency descent to 2,400 meters, and the deployment of an oxygen mask for each seat.

Blue Air, which entered insolvency after its former owner Nelu Iordache was jailed for money embezzling, was taken over in 2013 by Belgian – Romanian Airline Management Solutions, for some EUR 30 million. This company is controlled by Belgian Maxi Tours and two Romanian shareholders, according to Casa de Insolvenţă Transilvania, the judiciary administrator of Blue Air’s parent company Romstrade. The deal includes the brand, know-how and sales platform, but not Blue Air’s assets.

editor@romania-insider.com