A Japan Airlines flight took a terrifying turn on June 30 when a Boeing 737 suddenly dropped nearly 26,000 ft in just 10 min, leaving passengers scrambling for oxygen masks.



Flight JL8696, operated in partnership with Spring Japan, had taken off from Shanghai Pudong Airport en route to Tokyo Narita with 191 passengers on board, as per the reports. But at around 6:53 pm local time, a mechanical issue caused the aircraft to make a rapid descent from its cruising altitude of 36,000 ft to just under 10,500 ft.



The flight, which had departed earlier in the day, raised alarms when the cockpit crew reported a technical fault that required prompt action. According to the Standard, this Boeing 737 plane made an emergency dive, what is known as a “death plunge”, plunging nearly 8,000 m in about 10 minutes.



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According to reports, the pilots followed standard emergency procedures and safely diverted the aircraft to the nearby airport.



The emergency services were placed on standby, but the landing was carried out without incident. Passengers on the flight seem to be distressed by this whole situation, and they have shared their footage that captured the oxygen masks dropping from the ceiling.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLk_tegoVdu/ https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLk_tegoVdu/

According to the Associated Press, a passenger exclaimed, “I heard a muffled boom, and the oxygen mask fell off in a few seconds.” By this statement, it is quite evident how scared the passengers were for their lives. All passengers are safe, and no casualties or injuries have been reported. The passengers onboard described the moments of tension as the crew informed them of the situation, but many praised the professionalism of the flight team for handling the incident calmly and efficiently. The Spring Airlines flight had to make an emergency landing after the plane dropped nearly 26,000 feet, as said by The Daily Mail.



What is a death plunge?

A death plunge generally refers to a sudden or dramatic fall from a great height, often regarded as fatal or dangerous. It is sometimes used (informally) in aviation when a plane experiences a rapid, uncontrolled descent, even if it is later brought down safely. Most of us have heard this word when it comes to emergency landings: factors unknown.



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Update:

Investigations are going on, and the aircraft will stay grounded until all safety checks are done. Of course, for the crew and the passenger, this flight was an experience they will not forget anytime soon. The good thing is nobody was hurt, and the pilot's prompt action saved the lives of hundreds of people.