Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Passengers aboard a Japan Airlines flight (JL8696) from Shanghai to Tokyo experienced a terrifying ordeal when their Boeing 737 suddenly descended 26,000 feet reportedly, forcing the deployment of oxygen masks. Passengers feared the plane was going to crash. Some who were asleep were jolted awake, while others began writing down their wills and sending messages to loved ones with personal details such as bank PINs and insurance information.
The flight, which departed on June 30 from Shanghai Pudong Airport en route to Tokyo Narita Airport, was operated under a codeshare agreement between Japan Airlines and its low-cost subsidiary, Spring Japan. According to the South China Morning Post, there were 191 people on board.
An AP report stated that around 6:53 pm local time, the aircraft encountered a mid-air mechanical issue that triggered a rapid descent from approximately 36,000 feet to just under 10,500 feet in under 10 minutes. The report also stated that a pressurisation system alert was activated during the descent, prompting the pilot to declare an emergency and divert the flight to Kansai International Airport in Osaka.
As cabin pressure dropped, oxygen masks were released. Footage from the flight shows visibly shaken passengers wearing oxygen masks as a flight attendant delivers instructions. Despite the panic, the aircraft landed safely in Osaka at 8:50pm local time. No injuries were reported. The incident adds to growing concerns over Boeing aircraft. Last month, a devastating crash involving a Boeing plane on the Ahmedabad-London route killed 275 people.
