Latest news with #MU5735
Indian Express
a day ago
- General
- Indian Express
Panic grips Japan airlines flight after 7km mid-air plunge: ‘Thought I was going to die'
A Japan airlines flight from Shanghai to Tokyo turned into a harrowing experience for 191 people on board after the aircraft made an emergency landing at Kansai Airport on Monday evening. The plane, operated by Spring Airlines Japan under flight number IJ004, diverted to Osaka after a sudden loss of cabin pressure forced the pilots into an emergency landing. What began as a routine evening flight from Pudong to Narita became for some passengers a near death experience. 'I thought I was going to die,' wrote one shaken passenger on social media, describing the dramatic drop in altitude and the moment oxygen masks fell from the ceiling. 'My body is still here, but my soul hasn't caught up. My legs are still shaking. When you face life or death, everything else feels trivial.' According to flight tracking data and witness reports, the Boeing 737-800 plunged more than 10,000 metres (10km) to just 3,000 metres (3km) in about 20 minutes. Although no injuries were reported, passengers recounted moments of chaos, fear, and a chilling silence as the aircraft descended. According to The Standard news agency, a woman named Wang recalled a chilling silence inside the cabin after the oxygen masks dropped. She said she genuinely feared for her life, and seeing flight attendants nearly in tears only deepened the panic. Another passenger told the outlet she had written a goodbye message to her husband as the plane was landing rapidly. Japan's transport ministry confirmed that the flight crew declared an emergency after an alert indicated cabin pressure irregularities which is an issue that while rare can be fatal if left unaddressed. Quick action by the pilots and communication with air traffic controllers helped ensure the aircraft landed safely at 8:50 pm local time. Yet for those onboard, the nightmare didn't end with touchdown. Passengers were kept inside the aircraft for over an hour, reportedly without clear communication. Amid growing complaints, Spring airlines Japan agreed to offer 15,000 yen in compensation to each passenger but only after individuals filed claims themselves. The incident again throws a spotlight on the Boeing 737-800, a model involved in numerous aviation disasters, including the 2022 crash of China Eastern Airlines flight MU5735 and the Jeju air tragedy in South Korea that killed 179 in 2024. While Monday's emergency ended without casualties, it has stirred unease among travelers already wary of the aircraft's history. For now, questions linger—about airline communication, aircraft maintenance, and passenger treatment—but for many who lived through the terrifying plunge, gratitude trumps outrage. 'We're alive. That's all that matters…But I'll never forget the feeling of that fall. It changes you,' one of the passengers said. Spring Airlines' Chinese parent company was quick to distance itself, noting the incident involved Spring Airlines Japan, a joint venture with JAL. Japan Airlines, which took over majority control of the budget carrier in 2021, has not publicly commented beyond confirming the safe landing.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Terrified passenger writes farewell note as Tokyo-bound Boeing 737 plunges nearly 26,000 feet
A Spring Airlines Japan flight from Shanghai to Tokyo turned into a nightmare for passengers on board on Monday. All seemed normal until a suspected cabin pressure failure caused the Boeing 737-800 to descend rapidly, triggering oxygen mask deployment and panic midair. According to the South China Morning Post, flight JL8696, also listed as IJ004, was en route to Tokyo Narita Airport at the time of the incident. Image used for representational purposes only(AFP) Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism said that the aircraft dropped from 11,000 meters (36,000 feet) to just 3,000 metres (9,800 feet) in under 10 minutes after the flight crew received a cabin pressure alert and declared an emergency, reported The Standard. Flight data confirmed the aircraft's descent of nearly 8,000 meters in just minutes. The aircraft made an emergency landing at the Kansai International Airport in Osaka. Passengers were forced to remain onboard for over an hour before being allowed to disembark. Although all 191 passengers and crew members onboard survived without physical injuries, the emotional toll was immense. Passenger says she wrote a farewell note According to The Standard report, a woman identified as Wang, said there was an eerie silence inside the aircraft after oxygen masks dropped. Wang elaborated that she felt she was going to die and seeing the flight attendants on the verge of tears triggered panic. Another passenger told the outlet that she wrote a farewell note to her husband as the aircraft plunged. Many expressed their shock, fear, and frustration on social media. According to the SCMP report, a passenger described the incident as 'violent and abrupt.' Boeing 737 is back in spotlight The SCMP report added that, following passenger complaints, Spring Airlines Japan has allegedly offered 15,000 yen (approximately $104) in compensation to each passenger. The incident, however, has once again brought attention to safety concerns around the Boeing 737 series. The model has been involved in at least 12 fatal crashes globally since 2000, including the China Eastern Airlines MU5735 crash in 2022 and the Jeju Air crash in South Korea in 2024. FAQs: 1. What happened on the Spring Airlines Japan flight on July 1, 2025? A suspected cabin pressure failure forced the aircraft to make an emergency descent from 11,000 to 3,000 metres, triggering oxygen masks and emergency landing procedures. 2. Were there any injuries? No physical injuries were reported, but many passengers experienced psychological trauma. 3. Where did the plane land? The Boeing 737-800 diverted to Kansai International Airport in Osaka. 4. What kind of aircraft was involved? A Boeing 737-800, a model that has faced scrutiny due to past global safety incidents. 5. Will passengers receive compensation? Spring Airlines Japan is offering 15,000 yen to affected passengers, but it must be claimed directly. 6. Is the airline related to Spring Airlines in China? Spring Airlines Japan is a separate entity partially owned by Japan Airlines. The Chinese parent company clarified it was not involved in the incident.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Three years after China Eastern plane crash, regulator has not released report
BEIJING/SEOUL (Reuters) - China's aviation regulator has not released an expected update on its investigation into a deadly China Eastern Airlines crash three years ago, leaving relatives and the aviation industry with no details on the cause of the disaster. On March 21, 2022, a China Eastern Boeing 737-800 jet plunged into a hillside in the southwestern region of Guangxi about an hour after takeoff, killing all 132 people on board in China's deadliest air disaster in three decades. The Civil Aviation Administration of China issued a preliminary report and two anniversary updates on the crash of China Eastern flight MU5735, but the updates were only a few paragraphs, offering scant details. CAAC has said it would release relevant information based on the progress of the investigation. But on Saturday, after the third anniversary of the crash, relatives were still waiting to learn what caused the plane to nosedive from cruising altitude. CAAC and China Eastern did not respond to requests for comment. Global aviation guidelines call for an initial report within 30 days of an accident and a final one ideally within a year. Failing that, investigators should issue statements on each anniversary. Final reports are a major tool used by the aviation industry to help prevent new accidents by learning lessons from previous tragedies. Aviation bodies have raised the alarm over the number of delayed or non-existent final reports globally, blaming scarce investigation resources, judicial interference or a lack of political willingness to disclose certain narratives. CAAC has maintained that no faults or abnormalities were found in the aircraft or engines before takeoff from Kunming, bound for Guangzhou, or with the weather or communications. The crew held valid licences, adequate rest and passed health checks on the day of the flight, and there was no dangerous weather or dangerous goods on board the plane, the regulator has said. Investigators examined the crew's actions after finding no malfunctions, two people briefed on the matter said at the time. In May 2022, the Wall Street Journal reported that "black box" data indicated someone had intentionally crashed the plane, citing a preliminary assessment from U.S. officials. CAAC has previously said speculation surrounding the crash had "gravely misled the public" and interfered with accident investigation work. Chinese lawmakers are considering significant changes to the country's civil aviation law, including measures against spreading rumours about aviation safety, CAAC said last month. Some users of Chinese social media platforms Xiaohongshu and Weibo took note of the lack of a report. "Three years... no results? Does nobody remember?" a Weibo user wrote. Others expressed hope it would be released so as to give the public and family members of victims an explanation. "Not releasing in itself is a type of report," a Xiaohongshu user wrote Saturday.
Reuters
22-03-2025
- General
- Reuters
Three years after China Eastern plane crash, regulator has not released report
BEIJING/SEOUL, March 22 (Reuters) - China's aviation regulator has not released an expected update on its investigation into a deadly China Eastern Airlines ( opens new tab crash three years ago, leaving relatives and the aviation industry with no details on the cause of the disaster. On March 21, 2022, a China Eastern Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab 737-800 jet plunged into a hillside in the southwestern region of Guangxi about an hour after takeoff, killing all 132 people on board in China's deadliest air disaster in three decades. The Civil Aviation Administration of China issued a preliminary report and two anniversary updates on the crash of China Eastern flight MU5735, but the updates were only a few paragraphs, offering scant details. CAAC has said it would release relevant information based on the progress of the investigation. But on Saturday, after the third anniversary of the crash, relatives were still waiting to learn what caused the plane to nosedive from cruising altitude. CAAC and China Eastern did not respond to requests for comment. Global aviation guidelines call for an initial report within 30 days of an accident and a final one ideally within a year. Failing that, investigators should issue statements on each anniversary. Final reports are a major tool used by the aviation industry to help prevent new accidents by learning lessons from previous tragedies. Aviation bodies have raised the alarm over the number of delayed or non-existent final reports globally, blaming scarce investigation resources, judicial interference or a lack of political willingness to disclose certain narratives. CAAC has maintained that no faults or abnormalities were found in the aircraft or engines before takeoff from Kunming, bound for Guangzhou, or with the weather or communications. The crew held valid licences, adequate rest and passed health checks on the day of the flight, and there was no dangerous weather or dangerous goods on board the plane, the regulator has said. Investigators examined the crew's actions after finding no malfunctions, two people briefed on the matter said at the time. In May 2022, the Wall Street Journal reported that "black box" data indicated someone had intentionally crashed the plane, citing a preliminary assessment from U.S. officials. CAAC has previously said speculation surrounding the crash had "gravely misled the public" and interfered with accident investigation work. Chinese lawmakers are considering significant changes to the country's civil aviation law, including measures against spreading rumours about aviation safety, CAAC said last month. Some users of Chinese social media platforms Xiaohongshu and Weibo took note of the lack of a report. "Three years... no results? Does nobody remember?" a Weibo user wrote. Others expressed hope it would be released so as to give the public and family members of victims an explanation. "Not releasing in itself is a type of report," a Xiaohongshu user wrote Saturday.
South China Morning Post
22-03-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
3 years on: no final report and no answers to China Eastern plane disaster
The cause of China's worst plane crash in 30 years remains unknown, with Chinese authorities opting to not file a progress report on the third anniversary of the disaster. Advertisement China Eastern Airlines flight MU5735 was flying from the southwestern city of Kunming to the southern city of Guangzhou on March 21, 2022 when it plunged into the side of a mountain near Wuzhou in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, killing all 123 passengers and nine crew. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) convention requires the country conducting an air accident investigation to publish the final investigation report within 12 months of the event. If this is not done, the investigating authority must publish an annual update on the anniversary of the accident each year. Instead of a final report on the Boeing 737-800 crash, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) released updates in 2023 and 2024. But it did not do so on Friday for the third anniversary. 02:22 Black box from crashed China Eastern Airlines flight found Black box from crashed China Eastern Airlines flight found The incident was China's worst air crash since 1994 and ended the country's world-record run for aviation safety. Before the crash, Chinese carriers had amassed more than 100 million hours of safe flying. Advertisement A family member of one of the crash victims told the South China Morning Post on Thursday that they had not been told how the investigation was progressing, only learning about last year's briefing from the news.
