Passengers pen goodbye notes as plane plummets 25,000 feet
The Spring Airlines Japan flight from Shanghai to Tokyo on Monday night was cruising at 36,000 feet (10.97 kilometres) with 191 passengers and crew when it suddenly dropped to just under 10,500 feet (3.2 kilometres), according to officials, blaming an unspecified mechanical issue.
Terrifying footage shows panicked passengers clutching their oxygen masks — as some even lost consciousness.
'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 said.
'Suddenly, all the oxygen masks popped open while I was sleeping,' a second said.
Another passenger recalled being on 'the verge of tears' as they wrote their will and the details of their life insurance and bank card PINs, thinking they were facing certain death.
An alert indicating an abnormality in cabin pressure was triggered amid the ascent, Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism said.
The flight, which had taken off from Shanghai Pudong Airport on Monday, was forced to make an emergency landing at Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan.
No injuries were reported when the aircraft landed in the southern Japanese city at around 8:50pm local time, just under two hours after the oxygen masks were deployed.
Those on board were offered the equivalent of $104 in transportation compensation and given one night of free accommodation.
An investigation has been launched to determine the cause.
Japan Airlines and Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.
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A Boeing passenger plane plummeted more than 25,000 feet (7.62 kilometres) in just 10 minutes — leaving some of the nearly 200 on-board unconscious, and others sending heart-wrenching goodbyes to their loved ones. The Spring Airlines Japan flight from Shanghai to Tokyo on Monday night was cruising at 36,000 feet (10.97 kilometres) with 191 passengers and crew when it suddenly dropped to just under 10,500 feet (3.2 kilometres), according to officials, blaming an unspecified mechanical issue. Terrifying footage shows panicked passengers clutching their oxygen masks — as some even lost consciousness. '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 said. 'Suddenly, all the oxygen masks popped open while I was sleeping,' a second said. Another passenger recalled being on 'the verge of tears' as they wrote their will and the details of their life insurance and bank card PINs, thinking they were facing certain death. An alert indicating an abnormality in cabin pressure was triggered amid the ascent, Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism said. The flight, which had taken off from Shanghai Pudong Airport on Monday, was forced to make an emergency landing at Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan. No injuries were reported when the aircraft landed in the southern Japanese city at around 8:50pm local time, just under two hours after the oxygen masks were deployed. Those on board were offered the equivalent of $104 in transportation compensation and given one night of free accommodation. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause. Japan Airlines and Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.
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A trailblazer in Sydney's aviation scene, William "Billy" Hart, was the first Australian-born pilot to fly an aircraft solo in the country. Read more from The Senior A dentist by trade, Hart was issued with Australia's first pilot's licence after teaching himself to fly and took off for his historic flight near Penrith in 1911, flying a Boxkite-style aircraft built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company (later known as Bristol). Australian Aviation Hall of Fame director Ian Badham said Hart played a key role in sparking public interest in aviation by performing numerous demonstration flights across NSW, which drew large crowds. "The concept of flying in aeroplanes was so, so novel back then... It's only a few years after the Wright brothers... So it was a very new concept," he said. "He did everything in his power to promote things... he inspired people to get engaged, get involved and to get a license and learn to fly." While Hart played a key role in popularising flying in its early stages, fellow inductee Sir Ivan Nello Holyman founded Australian National Airways, revolutionising domestic and international travel in the country. After serving in World War I and being awarded the Military Cross, Sir Ivan returned to the family shipping business in Tasmania before founding Holyman Airways with his brother Victor. The brothers operated a de Havilland DH83 Fox Moth between Launceston and Flinders Island until Victor disappeared following an accident in 1934. Holyman merged the airline with Adelaide Airways in 1936, forming Australian National Airways. As managing director, Holyman transformed the airline into a major domestic carrier. He is credited with the introduction in Australia of air hostesses, free in-flight meals and automatic insurance for passengers. "He was a major force of getting aviation to the industry that we know... these days, from sort of pioneering days through to establishing [it] as a regular and reliable form of transport. "And he was really instrumental in bringing business skills into making that possible." Aviation engineer Greg Dunstone, of Canberra, played a pivotal role in revolutionising air traffic control after leading the development of radar surveillance technologies in Australia and the Asia Pacific region. "To know where others are, to be able to have air traffic controllers move you around with the full information systems of using radar to its ultimate, it's a very, very enhanced, safe system compared to what it was even 20 and 30 years ago," Mr Badham said. "Even leading up to the Sydney Olympics, he was still bringing in, they were bringing in systems that we accept as having been there forever. "Well, they haven't, and it took people like Dunstone to actually make it possible." Bill Bristow will round out this year's Hall of Fame class for his role in providing sick children in rural Australia with free flights and transportation to receive medical care. A passionate aviator since 1970, Mr Bristow, of Brisbane, established Angel Flight Australia in 2003 to improve access to medical care for people with non-emergency medical conditions. Mr Badham said that while emergency services were available, many people with less urgent medical issues or their parents were having to drive long distances to receive medical care. "It's a huge effort and a huge impact on the parents and the friends to make that possible by mobilising 3000 pilots and 4000 ground volunteers to move 100,000 kids." "The assistance that's... provided to parents has been invaluable." Since the hall of fame's inception in 2011, 61 Australians have been honoured for their outstanding contributions to aviation. This year's class will be officially honoured at the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame gala induction dinner at Albion Park, NSW, on March 14. Regional Aviation Association will also be honoured with this year's Southern Cross award. The dinner will coincide with the Airshows Downunder Shellharbour event. The airshow will feature flying displays, a chance to get up close and personal with historic, military, modern and aerobatic aircraft, carnival rides, market stalls and food. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. A fearless pioneer who helped popularise aviation in Australia and a skilled engineer who made flights in Australia safer are among the names to be honoured at this year's Australian Aviation Hall of Fame. Four aviators and aviation experts will be honoured in this year's hall of fame, with their combined services spanning more than a century. A trailblazer in Sydney's aviation scene, William "Billy" Hart, was the first Australian-born pilot to fly an aircraft solo in the country. Read more from The Senior A dentist by trade, Hart was issued with Australia's first pilot's licence after teaching himself to fly and took off for his historic flight near Penrith in 1911, flying a Boxkite-style aircraft built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company (later known as Bristol). Australian Aviation Hall of Fame director Ian Badham said Hart played a key role in sparking public interest in aviation by performing numerous demonstration flights across NSW, which drew large crowds. "The concept of flying in aeroplanes was so, so novel back then... It's only a few years after the Wright brothers... So it was a very new concept," he said. "He did everything in his power to promote things... he inspired people to get engaged, get involved and to get a license and learn to fly." While Hart played a key role in popularising flying in its early stages, fellow inductee Sir Ivan Nello Holyman founded Australian National Airways, revolutionising domestic and international travel in the country. After serving in World War I and being awarded the Military Cross, Sir Ivan returned to the family shipping business in Tasmania before founding Holyman Airways with his brother Victor. The brothers operated a de Havilland DH83 Fox Moth between Launceston and Flinders Island until Victor disappeared following an accident in 1934. Holyman merged the airline with Adelaide Airways in 1936, forming Australian National Airways. As managing director, Holyman transformed the airline into a major domestic carrier. He is credited with the introduction in Australia of air hostesses, free in-flight meals and automatic insurance for passengers. "He was a major force of getting aviation to the industry that we know... these days, from sort of pioneering days through to establishing [it] as a regular and reliable form of transport. "And he was really instrumental in bringing business skills into making that possible." Aviation engineer Greg Dunstone, of Canberra, played a pivotal role in revolutionising air traffic control after leading the development of radar surveillance technologies in Australia and the Asia Pacific region. "To know where others are, to be able to have air traffic controllers move you around with the full information systems of using radar to its ultimate, it's a very, very enhanced, safe system compared to what it was even 20 and 30 years ago," Mr Badham said. "Even leading up to the Sydney Olympics, he was still bringing in, they were bringing in systems that we accept as having been there forever. "Well, they haven't, and it took people like Dunstone to actually make it possible." Bill Bristow will round out this year's Hall of Fame class for his role in providing sick children in rural Australia with free flights and transportation to receive medical care. A passionate aviator since 1970, Mr Bristow, of Brisbane, established Angel Flight Australia in 2003 to improve access to medical care for people with non-emergency medical conditions. Mr Badham said that while emergency services were available, many people with less urgent medical issues or their parents were having to drive long distances to receive medical care. "It's a huge effort and a huge impact on the parents and the friends to make that possible by mobilising 3000 pilots and 4000 ground volunteers to move 100,000 kids." "The assistance that's... provided to parents has been invaluable." Since the hall of fame's inception in 2011, 61 Australians have been honoured for their outstanding contributions to aviation. This year's class will be officially honoured at the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame gala induction dinner at Albion Park, NSW, on March 14. Regional Aviation Association will also be honoured with this year's Southern Cross award. The dinner will coincide with the Airshows Downunder Shellharbour event. The airshow will feature flying displays, a chance to get up close and personal with historic, military, modern and aerobatic aircraft, carnival rides, market stalls and food. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
