Passenger plane and coast guard aircraft collide at Tokyo's Haneda Airport
A large passenger plane and a Japanese coast guard aircraft collided on the runway at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Tuesday and burst into flames, killing five people aboard the coast guard plane. All passengers on the Japan Airlines flight were safely evacuated before the plane was engulfed in flames. The cause of the collision is under investigation.
Collision and Fire at Haneda Airport
A collision between a large passenger plane and a Japanese coast guard aircraft occurred on the runway at Tokyo's Haneda Airport, resulting in a fiery accident. Five people aboard the coast guard plane were killed in the incident. All 379 passengers and crew members on the Japan Airlines flight were able to evacuate the plane before it was engulfed in flames. The cause of the collision is currently unknown and under investigation.
Television footage captured the moment of the collision as an orange fireball erupted from the Japan Airlines plane while it was landing. The airliner then emitted smoke as it continued down the runway. Emergency chutes were deployed, allowing all passengers and crew members to evacuate the plane within 20 minutes.
Firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze, which spread throughout the plane. This accident is the first severe damage to an Airbus A350, one of the industry's newest large passenger planes. The A350 had flown from Shin Chitose airport near Sapporo before the collision occurred.
Investigation and Response
Officials from both Japan and France, the home country of Airbus, are investigating the accident. Airbus has sent specialists to assist with the investigation. The A350 involved in the accident was delivered to Japan Airlines in late 2021.
The accident is seen as a significant test case for the fire resistance of carbon-composite fuselage materials used in planes like the A350 and Boeing 787. The fire did not burn through the fuselage immediately, allowing passengers to safely evacuate.
Japan Airlines' managing executive officers stated that the A350 was making a normal landing when the collision occurred, although the specifics of how the collision happened are still unclear. Police are expected to investigate the incident for possible professional negligence.
Passenger Accounts and Aftermath
Passengers on the Japan Airlines flight recounted the chaotic scene as the cabin filled with smoke within minutes of the collision. Cabin attendants instructed passengers to leave their belongings behind as they evacuated the plane. The fire was eventually extinguished after six hours.
Four passengers were taken to a medical facility for treatment, while 14 others sustained injuries. The cabin crew was praised for their efficient evacuation of the aircraft. Transport officials are working to prevent delays in delivering relief goods to earthquake-hit areas.
Haneda Airport, one of Tokyo's major airports, has reopened three of its four runways following the accident. The A350, a twin-engine, twin-aisle aircraft, is used by several international airlines for long-haul flights.
