By M10News Asia-Pacific Correspondent
© M10News 2025 – All Rights Reserved
Osaka, Japan – Dozens of passengers aboard a Japan Airlines flight were left shaken after their plane plunged 26,000 feet in just 10 minutes during a dramatic mid-air emergency that forced an unscheduled landing on Monday evening.
Flight JL8696—operated by Spring Airlines Japan under a codeshare with Japan Airlines—was en route from Shanghai to Tokyo when the Boeing 737 aircraft experienced a sudden malfunction in its cabin pressurisation system, triggering onboard alarms and deploying oxygen masks.
The flight, carrying 191 passengers and crew, was diverted to Kansai International Airport in Osaka, touching down safely shortly before 9 pm local time.
“My Soul Hasn’t Caught Up” – Passengers Recall Panic
Footage posted to social media showed oxygen masks hanging from the cabin ceiling as the aircraft rapidly descended. Passengers described moments of terror, with some believing they might not survive the ordeal.
“My body is still here, but my soul hasn’t caught up,” one passenger wrote. “My legs are still shaking. When you face life or death, everything else feels trivial.”
Another traveller said the aircraft “plummeted violently” shortly after 7 pm, dropping to around 3,000 metres (approx. 10,000 feet) during the emergency descent.
No Injuries Reported as Cause Probed
Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism confirmed that the aircraft’s system had detected abnormal cabin altitude levels. While rapid decompression was ruled out, Japan Airlines said oxygen masks were deployed as a precautionary safety measure.
“By emergency procedures, the flight descended to a safe altitude,” the airline said in a statement. “There was no rapid decompression. However, due to the potential for reduced cabin pressure, oxygen masks were deployed in line with standard safety protocols.”
Officials say no injuries were reported, and all passengers and crew disembarked safely. The aircraft remains grounded in Osaka pending further technical inspections.
An investigation into the cause of the pressurisation issue is currently underway.
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