A Spring Airlines Japan flight traveling from Shanghai to Tokyo experienced a terrifying mid-air emergency when it suddenly descended by 26,000 feet in just 10 minutes, sparking panic among passengers.
The flight, operating under the numbers JL8696 and IJ004, was heading toward Tokyo’s Narita Airport when the dramatic incident unfolded, according to reports from the South China Morning Post.
Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism confirmed that the Boeing 737-800 aircraft plunged from an altitude of 11,000 meters (36,000 feet) down to 3,000 meters (approximately 9,800 feet) in under 10 minutes after the crew detected a cabin pressure warning and declared an in-flight emergency, as reported by The Standard.
The plane safely diverted to Kansai International Airport in Osaka, where it carried out an emergency landing. All 191 passengers and crew on board escaped without any reported injuries.
As detailed by the Associated Press, passengers described harrowing moments when oxygen masks deployed, fueling fears of a potential crash due to the rapid drop in cabin pressure. A sudden loss of pressure at high altitudes can cause hypoxia, leading to unconsciousness if oxygen is not quickly restored.
Upon landing, many passengers took to social media to share their shock and relief. One traveler posted: “I’m still trembling; it felt like a brush with death. Everything else in life feels insignificant now.”
Reports also emerged online claiming that passengers were kept inside the aircraft for over an hour after landing.
Spring Airlines Japan has since apologized for the incident, announcing the cancellation of flight JL8696 and its return service JL8695 on July 1 and 2. The airline is offering full refunds, flexible rebooking options within 30 days, and additional compensation exceeding US $90 per affected passenger.
Japan’s aviation authorities have launched an investigation to identify the root cause of the emergency descent. Inspectors are currently analyzing the aircraft’s pressurization system, flight data recordings, and cockpit audio to determine what went wrong.