Terrified passengers send bank PINs, wills in final messages as Boeing 737 plunges 26,000ft in 10 minutes

OSAKA, JAPAN: Passengers aboard a Japan Airlines flight from Shanghai to Tokyo endured a terrifying ordeal on Monday, June 30, when their Boeing 737 suddenly plummeted 26,000 feet in under 10 minutes due to a reported mechanical issue.

As oxygen masks deployed mid-air, some onboard began preparing for the worst — writing goodbye notes to loved ones, sharing insurance and bank information, and fearing they wouldn’t survive.

Though the aircraft ultimately landed safely in Osaka with no reported injuries, the harrowing experience has further intensified scrutiny of Boeing aircraft safety.

Passengers write wills and share PINs mid-flight as Japan Airlines plane plunges 26,000 feet

As the plane plunged, passengers were jolted awake and thrown into panic. Oxygen masks dropped from overhead compartments, and flight attendants shouted instructions through the chaos.

“I heard a muffled boom and the oxygen mask fell off in a few seconds. The stewardess cried and shouted to put on the oxygen mask, saying the plane had a malfunction,” one passenger recalled.

Another said, “Suddenly, all the oxygen masks popped open while I was sleeping.”

With a sense of doom thick in the air, passengers began composing farewell messages. Several reported writing out their wills and sending deeply personal information—like insurance details and bank PINs—to family members, assuming they wouldn’t survive.

“I was on the verge of tears,” said one passenger. “I wrote my will and the details of my life insurance and bank card PINs, thinking this was it."

Pressurization system failure forces Japan Airlines Boeing 737 to divert to Osaka

Viral footage from inside the aircraft showed visibly distressed passengers clutching their oxygen masks as cabin crew moved through the aisle, attempting to maintain order. Some passengers reportedly lost consciousness due to the sudden drop in cabin pressure.

Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism confirmed that a cabin pressurization alert was triggered during the incident and has launched an investigation into the mechanical failure.

Japan Airlines flight plunges mid-air due to pressurization failure; emergency landing sparks Boeing safety concerns

Japan Airlines flight JL8696, operated by its low-cost subsidiary Spring Japan under a codeshare agreement, departed from Shanghai Pudong Airport and was bound for Tokyo Narita.

At approximately 6:53 pm local time, while cruising at 36,000 feet, the aircraft reportedly experienced a pressurization system failure, prompting a rapid descent to just under 10,500 feet.

Officials later confirmed that an alert related to cabin pressure abnormalities had been activated. The pilot declared an emergency and diverted the flight to Kansai International Airport in Osaka, where it landed safely at 8:50 pm local time. There were 191 people on board.

While no physical injuries were reported, passengers were visibly shaken. Each was reportedly offered the equivalent of $104 in transportation compensation and provided one night of accommodation.

The incident comes amid growing concerns over Boeing’s safety record. Just weeks earlier, a Boeing aircraft crash on the Ahmedabad–London route claimed 275 lives, and several other recent near-misses have involved Boeing planes.

With this latest emergency landing, pressure is mounting on both airlines and regulators to thoroughly re-examine safety protocols—especially for aircraft already under international scrutiny.