A horrifying incident unfolded at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on Tuesday as a passenger plane collided with a Japanese Coast Guard aircraft on the runway, resulting in a fiery catastrophe. The Japan Airlines (JAL) Airbus A350, carrying 379 people, had just landed from Shin Chitose airport when it collided with the Coast Guard’s Bombardier Dash-8 plane, which was preparing to take off for Niigata. The smaller aircraft, intended for earthquake relief efforts, burst into flames, tragically claiming the lives of all five crew members.
Transport Minister Tetsuo Saito confirmed that the passengers and crew on the JAL flight managed to evacuate safely before the aircraft was engulfed in flames. This marks the first severe damage to an Airbus A350, a prominent model in the airline industry since its commercial debut in 2015.
Collision Details Emerge: Investigation Underway
The collision occurred on one of Haneda Airport’s runways, where the JAL plane landed while the Coast Guard aircraft was preparing for takeoff. Transport safety officials are currently investigating communication records between aviation control and the involved aircraft to determine the circumstances leading to the tragic collision. Shigenori Hiraoka, head of the Transport Ministry Civil Aviation Bureau, praised JAL for its swift and effective evacuation procedures.
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Passengers described chaotic scenes inside the JAL plane, with smoke filling the cabin shortly after landing. The emergency evacuation was successful, but some passengers suffered injuries during the incident. Despite the tragedy, airport operations resumed on three of Haneda’s runways.
The Japan Airlines Airbus A350, one of the airline industry’s newest large passenger planes, has been a flagship for international service. JAL operates 16 A350-900 aircraft, and the recent addition of the A350-1000 variant was intended to serve as the airline’s new international flagship. The tragic incident occurred as the aviation industry faces challenges due to the ongoing global situation, and thoughts from the International Air Transport Association emphasized the difficulties faced by Japan in recent days.
The aftermath of the collision has raised concerns about the impact on relief efforts for the region affected by the recent earthquake. The Japan Transport Safety Board, police, and other departments are actively investigating the incident. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed his condolences for the crew members who lost their lives, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that the accident does not hinder relief operations.
The collision and subsequent blaze have sent shockwaves through the aviation community, prompting a thorough examination of safety protocols and communication procedures at busy airports like Haneda.