A tragic incident unfolded at Tokyo's Haneda airport on Tuesday, as a Japan Airlines (JAL) plane collided with a Coast Guard aircraft, resulting in a devastating fire. Miraculously, all 379 passengers onboard the JAL Airbus A350 managed to escape, while five out of the six crew members on the smaller aircraft lost their lives. Live footage captured the moment when the JAL airliner burst into flames and skidded down the tarmac, causing chaos and panic among the passengers.
Videos and images circulated on social media showcasing the passengers shouting inside the smoke-filled cabin, desperately running across the tarmac after the evacuation slides were deployed. Amidst the chaos, the voice of a frightened child can be heard urgently pleading to exit the plane swiftly. Ultimately, all 367 passengers and 12 crew members were evacuated from the blazing airliner. However, the fire raged on for over six hours, causing extensive damage, before it was eventually extinguished after midnight.
Satoshi Yamake, a telecommunications worker who was onboard the flight, shared his experience, stating, "I felt the airplane tilted to the side at the runway and felt a big bump." He continued, "The flight attendants told us to stay calm and instructed us to get off the plane." Fortunately, only 14 people sustained injuries, according to Japan Airlines, with none being life-threatening.
The tragic loss of life occurred on the Coast Guard aircraft, as five crew members were unable to escape the collision. The captain, who managed to survive the incident, suffered injuries. The Coast Guard plane was en route to Niigata on the west coast of Japan to provide assistance to victims of a recent earthquake. In contrast, the JAL flight had been granted permission to land, as confirmed by the airline. However, the exact circumstances leading to the collision are still under investigation.
Eyewitness accounts recounted the harrowing moments after the collision. Tsubasa Sawada, a 28-year-old passenger, shared, "I heard an explosion about 10 minutes after everyone and I got off the plane. I can only say it was a miracle, we could have died if we were late." Aviation experts praised the swift response of the cabin crew, noting that they managed to evacuate all passengers without any hand luggage, as carrying bags during an evacuation can pose significant safety risks.
Despite the challenges faced during the incident, the crew relied on megaphones to issue instructions, as the plane's in-flight announcement system malfunctioned. Japan Airlines assured that there were no reported issues with the aircraft prior to the landing. The airline further stated that the crew had received landing clearance and followed standard procedures.
The cause of the collision remains uncertain, prompting ongoing investigations by the Japan Transport Safety Board, alongside other relevant agencies and the police. While Haneda airport was temporarily shut down following the incident, three runways have now resumed operations. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed his condolences for the deaths of the Coast Guard crew and ensured that efforts are being made to ensure the accident does not disrupt the delivery of earthquake relief supplies.