On Jan 16th 2026, a routine regional flight in southern Japan was cut short shortly after departure when a technical warning prompted the crew to make a precautionary return. JAC Japan Air Commuter flight JL-3801, operated on behalf of JAL Japan Airlines, was flying an Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-212A, registration JA08JC, from Kagoshima to Wadomari with 35 people on board.
The turboprop had just departed Kagoshima’s runway 34 and was climbing normally when the flight crew received an indication of a malfunction involving the right-hand propeller speed on the Pratt & Whitney PW127M engine. Recognizing the importance of addressing the issue promptly, the crew halted the climb at 6,000 feet and began preparations to return to the departure airport.
Following standard procedures, the aircraft remained airborne long enough to assess the situation and ensure a safe approach. Approximately 35 minutes after takeoff, the ATR made a safe landing back on runway 34 at Kagoshima without further incident. Passengers and crew disembarked normally, and no injuries were reported.
To minimize disruption, the airline arranged for a replacement ATR-72-212A, registration JA06JC, to operate the onward flight. The substitute aircraft successfully reached Wadomari with a delay of around three hours, allowing passengers to complete their journey the same day.
After inspections and maintenance checks, the occurrence aircraft was cleared to return to service roughly five hours after landing. The event highlighted the effectiveness of onboard monitoring systems and crew decision-making, demonstrating how early detection and cautious action can turn a potential in-flight issue into a routine, safe outcome.
