Passengers on a Japan Airlines flight bound for Tokyo were left fearing for their lives on Monday, June 30, after a mechanical failure caused the aircraft to descend nearly 26,000 feet in a matter of minutes, forcing the deployment of oxygen masks mid-air.

The flight, operating under a codeshare between Japan Airlines and its low-cost affiliate Spring Japan, departed from Shanghai Pudong Airport headed for Tokyo Narita. It was operating as JL8696/IJ004, according to reports from Kyodo News, The Standard, and South China Morning Post.

Onboard were 191 passengers and crew when, around 6:53 p.m. local time, the Boeing 737 suddenly experienced a pressurization malfunction. According to the Associated Press and Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the aircraft rapidly descended from approximately 36,000 feet to just under 10,500 feet in a matter of minutes.

As reported by people.com, oxygen masks deployed throughout the cabin, sending passengers into panic. One passenger recalled hearing a “muffled boom” just before the masks dropped. “The stewardess cried and shouted to put on the oxygen mask, saying the plane had a malfunction,” they told the AP.

AirlineRatings CEO Sharon Petersen commented:
“This would have been an absolutely terrifying experience for passengers, and it’s natural for panic to set in when those oxygen masks appear. In today’s world of social media and fast-moving headlines, it’s important to clarify that this was not a sudden 26,000-foot freefall like a rollercoaster. The descent was rapid and steep, yet it was controlled. The pilots maintained full command of the aircraft at all times and followed all safety protocols precisely. This is exactly the kind of response we expect from an airline like Japan Airlines, a global leader in operational safety and procedure.”

Another passenger, awakened by the sudden pressure drop, said: “Suddenly, all the oxygen masks popped open while I was sleeping.” A third passenger described being “on the verge of tears,” using the terrifying time to write a will and jot down insurance and banking details.

Footage shared by Newsflare captured the chaos inside the cabin, showing passengers wearing their oxygen masks while a flight attendant made an emergency announcement.

An alert indicating an abnormality in the aircraft’s pressurization system was triggered, prompting the pilots to declare an emergency and divert the plane to Kansai International Airport in Osaka. The aircraft landed safely at approximately 8:50 p.m. local time. No injuries were reported.