'Legs are still shaking': Japan Airlines flight falls 26,000 feet, passengers recall terrifying moment

A Japan Airlines flight from Shanghai to Tokyo with 191 passengers onboard was forced to deploy oxygen masks after its Boeing 737 plunged nearly 26,000 feet in 10 minutes mid-air.

According to the South China Morning Post, the plane operating under a code-share agreement between Japan Airlines and its low-cost subsidiary, Spring Japan, made an emergency landing at Kansai Airport on Monday after it experienced a mid-air mechanical issue.

Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism said that the aircraft dropped from 11,000 meters (36,000 feet) to just 3,000 metres (9,800 feet) in under 10 minutes after the flight crew received a cabin pressure alert and declared an emergency, reported The Standard.

Emergency Spring and Autumn Airlines 6.30 Japan Spring and Autumn 1J004, Boeing 737, Shanghai flew to Tokyo more than 10,000 metres above the city of free fall to 3,000 metres of fish

Before that, I heard a muffled boom, and the oxygen mask fell off within a few seconds. The… pic.twitter.com/FY56ZNvcEQ

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All 191 passengers and crew members onboard survived without physical injuries. Those on board were offered 15,000 yen ($104) in transportation compensation and provided one night of accommodation. An investigation has been launched to determine what caused the incident.

Narrating the incident, a passenger told the Associated Press, “I heard a muffled boom, and the next thing I knew, oxygen masks dropped from above. A flight attendant cried and shouted for everyone to wear their masks, saying there was a malfunction.” Another told the AP they woke up to the masks falling and felt on the “verge of tears.”

One passenger revealed they wrote their will as the plane dropped. They jotted down insurance details and bank PINs. As reported by the South China Morning Post, one described the experience online: “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.”