A Japan Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing at Kansai Airport yesterday. Panicked passengers reportedly started writing final messages to their loved ones during the confusion.
According to a report by the Global Times, the incident occurred on Monday night. Flight JL8696/IJ004, a Japan Airlines Boeing 737, was en route to Narita from Shanghai. However, an “abnormality in the aircraft’s pressurization system” prompted the pilot to declare an emergency situation to Air Traffic Control. Authorities diverted the flight to Kansai Airport in Osaka. The outlet explains that the pressurization system governs cabin pressure on board the aircraft.
The flight was reportedly a codeshare run by Japan Airlines and its budget sister brand, Spring Airlines Japan. Per Forbes, a codeshare is essentially an agreement that allows airlines to sell seats on each other’s flights.
Eyewitness Accounts Say Passengers And Crew Were Panicking
The Transport and Tourism’s Osaka Civil Aviation Bureau reportedly announced that there were no casualties. The plane was carrying 191 people at the time, including crew members. However, several witness accounts paint a picture of panic and confusion.
The Global Times cites an account by a social media user called Crue. The outlet claims they said the plane began a rapid descent of 7000 meters at around 6:40 pm. The maneuver prompted staff to release oxygen masks. A flight attendant allegedly told passengers an emergency descent was required.
According to The Standard, the plane rapidly descended from 11,000 meters to 3,000 prompting some passengers to start writing their final messages to loved ones. The outlet explains that while nobody was physically hurt, some experienced “psychological trauma.” One witness allegedly saw a flight attendant on the verge of tears. She also said the cabin fell “eerily silent” when the oxygen masks dropped. Tracking data reportedly shows that the flight descended 8000 meters in about 10 minutes.
When the diverted flight landed at Kansai, authorities reportedly held passengers on board for an hour before deplaning. The Global Times says that the airline later offered 15,000 yen (roughly $104) in compensation and one night’s paid accommodation. The cause of the incident remains unclear, and authorities are investigating.