Translation guide
An emergency landing is an unplanned landing made by an aircraft in response to a crisis. In Japanese, the most common term is 緊急着陸 (kinkyū chakuriku), but other expressions exist for specific situations like water landings or crash landings.
To refer to any unplanned landing due to an emergency, such as mechanical failure, medical issue, or security threat.
The standard term for an emergency landing. Used in news, official reports, and everyday conversation.
飛行機がエンジントラブルのため緊急着陸した。
The plane made an emergency landing due to engine trouble.
緊急着陸に備えて、客室乗務員が指示を出した。
The flight attendants gave instructions in preparation for an emergency landing.
A slightly more descriptive phrase, literally 'landing of emergency'. Less common as a compound but still natural.
機長は緊急の着陸を決断した。
The captain decided on an emergency landing.
To refer specifically to an emergency landing on water.
Literally 'unplanned landing on water'. Used in aviation contexts for ditching.
ハドソン川への不時着水は奇跡的だった。
The ditching in the Hudson River was miraculous.
A more descriptive phrase meaning 'emergency landing on water'. Clear but longer.
パイロットは水上への緊急着陸を試みた。
The pilot attempted an emergency landing on water.
To refer to an emergency landing that results in significant damage or is uncontrolled.
Literally 'unplanned landing'. Often implies a crash landing or forced landing, but can be used broadly for any unscheduled landing.
その飛行機は山中に不時着した。
The plane made a crash landing in the mountains.
緊急着陸 emphasizes the emergency nature, while 不時着 simply means an unscheduled landing, which may or may not be an emergency. In news, 緊急着陸 is used when the landing is due to a declared emergency, while 不時着 can be used for any unplanned landing, including minor diversions.
緊急降下 (kinkyū kōka) means 'emergency descent', not 'emergency landing'. It refers to a rapid loss of altitude, not the landing itself.
Specifically a belly landing, where the aircraft lands without landing gear. Used in news reports.
胴体着陸の映像がテレビで流れた。
Footage of the belly landing was shown on TV.