A Japan Airlines Boeing 737 operating flight JL8696 from Shanghai to Tokyo caused sheer panic onboard when it rapidly dropped 26,000 feet mid-flight, prompting oxygen masks to deploy and terrifying passengers into thinking the plane might crash.
Some passengers, jolted awake from sleep by the sudden plunge, began drafting farewell messages and even shared critical personal information like bank PINs and insurance details with loved ones. Others reportedly wrote what they believed could be their final wills.
The flight, which took off on June 30 from Shanghai Pudong International Airport and was bound for Tokyo Narita Airport, was run under a codeshare between Japan Airlines and its budget carrier, Spring Japan. There were 191 people on board, according to the South China Morning Post.
As per Associated Press, at approximately 6:53 PM local time, the Japan Airlines Boeing 737 faced a mechanical failure at cruising altitude, leading to a sharp descent from 36,000 feet to just above 10,000 feet in less than 10 minutes. A warning related to the aircraft’s pressurisation system triggered the emergency, forcing the crew to act swiftly.
The pilot declared an emergency and rerouted the flight to Kansai International Airport in Osaka. During the descent, oxygen masks dropped from the ceiling as cabin pressure decreased. Passengers were seen in video footage wearing the masks while flight attendants provided safety instructions amid visible panic.
Despite the terrifying experience, the plane landed safely in Osaka at 8:50 PM local time. Fortunately, no passengers or crew members sustained injuries.
This alarming incident involving a Japan Airlines Boeing 737 comes at a time when Boeing’s safety practices are already under intense scrutiny. Just weeks ago, a fatal crash of a Boeing aircraft on the Ahmedabad-London route claimed 275 lives. A series of other recent incidents involving Boeing planes has further raised global safety concerns.
