
Passengers on a Spring Airlines flight from Shanghai to Tokyo went through a terrifying experience when the plane suddenly dropped 26,000 feet in just 10 minutes. The Boeing 737 was flying at 36,000 feet when it had to make a quick emergency descent to 10,500 feet.
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Chaos in the Cabin
People on board said there was panic everywhere. One passenger heard a “muffled boom” just before oxygen masks dropped from the ceiling. Flight attendants began shouting for everyone to put them on quickly.
Terrifying moments aboard a Spring Airlines Boeing 737 from Shanghai Pudong to Tokyo Narita — the flight experienced a sudden rapid descent mid-air! pic.twitter.com/Y1kwyorAUA
— Turbine Traveller (@Turbinetraveler) June 30, 2025
Some passengers were so scared, they thought they wouldn’t survive. A few even wrote down their wills, shared bank PINs, and insurance details with their loved ones.
Emergency Landing in Japan
The flight, which was headed to Narita Airport in Tokyo, had to be diverted and landed safely at Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan.
Thankfully, all 191 passengers and crew were safe, and no one was hurt. Videos from the flight showed almost everyone wearing oxygen masks.
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Compensation & Investigation
The airline gave 15,000 yen (around $104) and free overnight accommodation to the passengers as compensation.
An investigation is now underway to find out what caused the sudden drop.