Japan Airlines 737 Plunges 26,000 Feet, Masks Deployed Mid-Flight
A Japan Airlines flight descended nearly 26,000 feet in just 10 minutes on June 30, triggering oxygen mask deployment and panic among passengers. The Boeing 737, operating as Flight JL8696 under a codeshare with Spring Japan, was en route from Shanghai Pudong to Tokyo Narita with 191 people onboard.
The emergency began around 6:53 p.m. local time when a mechanical issue caused the aircraft to drop from 36,000 feet to under 10,500 feet. Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism later confirmed the problem involved the plane’s pressurization system.
“I heard a muffled boom, and the oxygen masks dropped almost immediately,” one passenger told the Associated Press. “The stewardess shouted for everyone to put them on—she was crying.”
Terrified passengers scrambled to secure their masks, with some describing the chaos as life-threatening. One passenger even wrote their will during the descent, fearing the worst.
The aircraft safely diverted to Kansai International Airport in Osaka, landing at 8:50 p.m. No physical injuries were reported, though passengers were visibly shaken.
Japan Airlines provided approximately $93 in compensation and overnight accommodations for those affected. Videos posted online show oxygen masks dangling and flight attendants doing their best to maintain calm during the emergency.
While Japan Airlines has not issued an official comment, the incident adds to a growing list of midair scares involving Boeing aircraft.
Investigators are now reviewing what led to the pressurization failure, as authorities work to prevent similar emergencies in the future.
Related News: https://airguide.info/?s=japan+airlines, https://airguide.info/category/air-travel-business/travel-health-security/
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, yahoo.com