"Legs Are Still Shaking": JA Flight JL8696 Drops 26,000 ft in 10 Minutes, Passengers Recall Terrifying Moment

Tokyo (The Uttam Hindu): A Japan Airlines flight from Shanghai to Tokyo turned into a terrifying ordeal for 191 passengers and crew on board when the aircraft suddenly dropped nearly 26,000 feet mid-air due to a mechanical failure. The Boeing 737, operating under a code-share with low-cost subsidiary Spring Japan, made an emergency landing at Kansai International Airport in Osaka after the incident.

According to reports, the aircraft descended rapidly from approximately 36,000 feet to just under 10,500 feet in under 10 minutes. Oxygen masks were deployed as cabin pressure levels plummeted, triggering panic among the passengers who feared the plane was about to crash.

Shaken passengers took to social media soon after landing, describing the descent as abrupt, violent, and traumatic. "My body is still here, but my soul hasn't caught up. My legs are still shaking. When you face life or death, everything else feels trivial," wrote one survivor. Another recalled being “on the verge of tears” and even drafting a will mid-air while sharing their insurance and bank PIN details with loved ones.

Despite the severity of the drop, no injuries were reported. The airline has offered ¥15,000 (approximately $104) in transportation compensation to each passenger, along with overnight accommodation.

Authorities have launched a formal investigation into the incident to determine the exact cause of the mechanical failure. The Boeing 737 involved is part of a model series that has faced multiple global safety concerns over the past few years.

In 2023, a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crash-landed at South Korea’s Muan International Airport, resulting in 179 deaths. The same model was also involved in the 2022 China Eastern Airlines crash that claimed all 132 lives on board.

Adding to the growing list of mid-air scares, an Air India Boeing 777 from Delhi to Vienna dropped 900 feet on June 14 this year. This occurred just two days after another Air India flight crashed in Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff, leaving only one survivor. Following standard procedure, the pilots of the Vienna-bound flight have been off-rostered pending a full investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

As investigations continue, global concerns are rising once again over the safety of Boeing aircraft models, especially those involved in recent high-altitude emergencies.