On the evening of June 30, a Boeing 737‑800 operated by Spring Japan under a Japan Airlines codeshare (Flight JL 8696/IJ 004) from Shanghai Pudong to Tokyo experienced a sudden cabin pressurization failure at cruise altitude. The crew immediately declared an emergency and initiated a rapid descent, plunging the aircraft from approximately 11,000 m (36,000 ft) to about 3,200 m (10,500 ft) within ten minutes, which triggered the deployment of oxygen masks and caused widespread panic among passengers. Amidst the turbulence, many travelers feared for their lives, with some even beginning to write farewell notes as oxygen flowed. The pilots, maintaining composure, communicated the situation to air traffic control and diverted the flight to Kansai International Airport in Osaka. The plane landed safely at around 8:50 p.m., with none of the 191 passengers and crew onboard sustaining physical injuries. After landing, the airline provided ¥15,000 (approximately $93) in transportation compensation and arranged overnight accommodation for passengers. Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, via the Osaka Civil Aviation Bureau, has launched a formal investigation to determine the cause of the pressurization system failure. Meanwhile, Spring Japan grounded several flights following the incident as a precautionary measure while the probe continues.
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