Tokyo, July 1, 2025 – Passengers onboard a Spring Airlines Japan flight from Shanghai to Tokyo faced a terrifying mid-air emergency on June 30 when their Boeing 737-800 experienced sudden cabin depressurization at cruising altitude.
Flight IJ004, operating in codeshare with Japan Airlines as JL8696, was en route from Shanghai Pudong to Tokyo Narita on June 30, 2025 when the cabin pressure system malfunctioned around 6:53 p.m. local time, triggering the automatic deployment of oxygen masks. The aircraft was cruising at 36,000 feet when the incident occurred.
In response, the pilots initiated a rapid emergency descent, bringing the aircraft down to a safer altitude of 10,500 feet within 10 minutes.
Scenes of Panic
Videos circulating on social media show passengers visibly shaken, clutching oxygen masks. Some described the atmosphere as one of “sheer panic,” with a few travelers even writing farewell messages and insurance details to their loved ones, fearing the worst.
The flight diverted to Osaka Kansai International Airport, where it landed safely at 8:50 p.m. All 191 people onboard, including passengers and crew, were unharmed.
Aircraft Details
The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737–800, registered JA06GR, part of Spring Japan’s fleet of six 737-800s. According to fleet records, JA06GR was delivered in May 2017, making it just over 8 years old at the time of the incident. It has been operating regularly on domestic and regional routes within Asia.
Investigation Underway
Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has launched a full investigation into the incident.
Spring Japan canceled subsequent IJ003/IJ004 flights to allow thorough inspections of the aircraft.
While such incidents are rare, this event highlights the critical importance of cabin pressurization systems and crew training. Aviation safety experts stress that the crew’s swift action in initiating an emergency descent was in full accordance with safety protocol.
Image: Screenshot from passenger videos shared on social media
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