On Tuesday, a Japan Airlines flight, carrying numerous passengers, ignited on a runway at Tokyo’s Haneda airport following a collision with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft. According to Tokyo police, Japanese national broadcaster NHK reported that five out of the six crew members aboard the Coast Guard aircraft have tragically lost their lives. The pilot, who managed to evacuate, is said to be severely injured.
Initial reports suggest that the Coast Guard aircraft was en route to Niigata to offer assistance for the recent earthquake. A representative from Japan Airlines confirmed that all 367 passengers and 12 crew members successfully evacuated from the Japan Airlines Airbus A350, which was witnessed engulfed in flames. The flight, identified as JL516, originated from the northern island of Hokkaido and touched down at Tokyo Haneda at 5:47 p.m. local time (3:47 a.m. ET).
Captivating video footage shared on social media depicted passengers utilizing an emergency evacuation slide and hastily crossing the tarmac. Japan Airlines reported that 11 passengers from the burning aircraft were taken to a hospital or airport clinic, experiencing discomfort. However, the airline did not furnish additional details regarding their current condition.
Emergency workers grappled with the blaze, leading to the closure of all runways at Haneda airport. Tokyo’s Haneda airport claimed the title of the busiest airport in the Asia-Pacific region last year, as reported by flight data provider OAG. A transport ministry official disclosed that, as per Reuters, three runways have now resumed operation. Japanese Transport Minister Tetsuo Saito delivered an update shortly after 8:30 p.m. Tokyo time, confirming the tragic demise of five out of the six crew members aboard the Coast Guard aircraft.
Saito, as reported by Reuters, mentioned that the cause of the incident remained unknown. Airbus, the European planemaker, stated that it is dispatching a team of specialists to offer technical support to French and Japanese authorities as they delve into the details of the collision at Haneda airport. Airbus expressed its concerns and sympathy for the families, friends, and loved ones affected by the accident on Tuesday.
