NEED TO KNOW
- Passengers on a Japan Airlines flight had to wear oxygen masks after the plane fell nearly 26,000 feet, according to reports
- On Monday, June 30, Flight 8696 from Shanghai, China, to Tokyo was forced to make an emergency landing in Osaka, Japan
- “I heard a muffled boom, and the oxygen mask fell in a few seconds,” one passenger recalled, per the Associated Press
A Japan Airlines flight was forced to deploy oxygen masks to passengers onboard after their Boeing 737 plane dropped at least 23,000 feet.
On Monday, June 30, a plane operating under a codeshare agreement between Japan Airlines and its low-cost subsidiary, Spring Japan, with the flight number JL8696/IJ004 departed from Shanghai Pudong Airport in China bound for Tokyo Narita Airport in Japan, according to Kyodo News, The Standard and South China Morning Post.
There were 191 passengers and crew onboard the plane when it suddenly experienced a mid-air mechanical issue, per the Associated Press. The aircraft rapidly descended from approximately 36,000 feet to just under 10,500 feet within 10 minutes, at approximately 6:53 p.m. local time.
Passengers feared the plane would crash as oxygen masks were released amid fears the change in pressure levels could cause some people to lose consciousness, according to AP.
“I heard a muffled boom, and the oxygen mask fell off in a few seconds. The stewardess cried and shouted to put on the oxygen mask, saying the plane had a malfunction,” one passenger told the news agency.
“Suddenly, all the oxygen masks popped open while I was sleeping,” another said.
A third terrified passenger recalled being on “the verge of tears” as they wrote their will and penned details of their insurance and bank card PINs.
The terrifying moment that passengers were made to put on oxygen masks was captured on video. Panicked passengers can be seen in the footage clutching onto their masks as a flight attendant makes an announcement.
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An alert indicating an abnormality in the aircraft’s pressurization system was triggered amid the descent, AP reported, citing Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and other authorities. The plane was then diverted to Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan, as the pilot declared an emergency to air traffic control.
No injuries were reported when the aircraft landed in Osaka at around 8:50 p.m. local time.
Those on board were offered 15,000 yen ($93) in transportation compensation and provided one night of accommodation, AP reported, citing passengers.
An investigation has been launched to determine what caused the incident, per AP.
Japan Airlines and Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Tuesday, July 1.
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