ANA Boeing 737-800 Evacuated at Okinawa After Engine Issue
By The Aviation Hub
3 min read
Updated September 24, 2026 
An All Nippon Airways Boeing 737-800 was evacuated on the runway at Okinawa on 23 September 2026 after the crew shut down an engine during the climb and returned to the airport.
Three passengers suffered minor injuries during the evacuation.
The Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) has rated the occurrence a serious incident and opened an investigation, as per The Aviation Herald.
Climb Halted at FL220, Turned Back to Okinawa
The aircraft, registered JA86AN, was operating flight NH1502 from Okinawa to Saga with 158 people on board.
Flight tracking data shows the service departed Okinawa just after midday local time.
As the aircraft climbed away from Okinawa, the crew noticed vibrations from the right engine, a CFM International CFM56.
The pilots stopped the climb at FL220, around 22,000 feet, to assess the situation.
The vibrations were then followed by high engine oil temperature indications.
With two abnormal indications on the same engine, the crew shut the right engine down and turned back towards Okinawa.
The 737 continued on its remaining engine and landed safely on runway 36R about one hour after departure.
Passengers Evacuated via Slides
After the aircraft came to a stop, the crew ordered an evacuation and passengers left the aircraft via the emergency slides.
Three passengers received minor injuries, described as scrapes, during the evacuation.
The reason for the decision to evacuate has not yet been confirmed.
There have been no reports of a fire at this stage.
An engine shutdown followed by rising oil temperatures can raise concerns about a possible fire risk, and crews must make that call quickly with limited information once the aircraft is on the ground.
Slide evacuations carry an inherent risk of injury.
Scrapes, sprains and bruises are common as passengers exit at speed onto the runway surface, which is why crews weigh the decision carefully against the threat posed by staying on board.
JTSB Opens Investigation Into Okinawa Incident
The JTSB has classified the event as a serious incident and launched an investigation.
In Japan, a serious incident is an occurrence that the authorities consider carried a high potential to develop into an accident.
Investigators are expected to examine the CFM56 engine to establish the source of the vibrations and the cause of the high oil temperatures.
They are also likely to review the crew’s decision making, the evacuation itself and how the three passengers came to be injured.
The aircraft remained on the ground in Okinawa about eight hours after landing.
ANA has not yet said when JA86AN will return to service.
About JA86AN
JA86AN is a Boeing 737-881 with manufacturer serial number 62641.
The aircraft rolled out in March 2016, making it around 10.5 years old.
It is configured with 166 seats and is operated by ANA Wings on behalf of All Nippon Airways on domestic routes.
In the days before the incident, the aircraft was flying a busy schedule across Japan, with services linking Okinawa, Nagoya, Nagasaki, Miyako and Sapporo.
Like every member of the 737 Next Generation family, the aircraft is powered by two CFM56 engines.
The CFM56 is one of the most widely used jet engines in commercial aviation and has built a strong reliability record over several decades.
Inflight shutdowns remain rare, but crews train extensively to handle them.
What Happens Next
The JTSB investigation will now focus on recovering data from the flight recorders and inspecting the right engine.
Investigators will look at maintenance records for the engine to determine whether any earlier warning signs were present.
The Aviation Hub will continue to follow this incident and will provide updates as more information emerges from ANA and the JTSB.
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