A terrifying scene unfolded aboard a Spring Airlines flight traveling from Shanghai to Tokyo when the aircraft was forced into an emergency dive on Monday.
Citing Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the Associated Press reported that the crew aboard the Boeing 737 received an alert from the cabin pressure system and declared an emergency, which prompted a controlled rapid descent.
As a result, the aircraft descended from approximately 36,000 feet to under 10,500 feet in just 10 minutes. The chaotic incident led to oxygen masks being deployed and at least one traveler writing a farewell note.
"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 told the AP.
Fortunately, the plane landed safely at Kansai International Airport in Osaka. No injuries were reported and passengers received overnight accommodations.
Officials have subsequently launched an investigation into the incident.
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