In Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on Tuesday, a Japan Airlines Airbus A-350, arriving from Shin Chitose airport, collided with a Japanese coast guard Bombardier Dash-8, registered as MA-722, on the runway. After the collision, a significant fire erupted, engulfing the JAL plane. Thankfully, all 379 passengers on JAL flight JAL-516 evacuated safely before the flames consumed the aircraft. The coast guard plane’s pilot also escaped, but unfortunately, five crewmembers lost their lives.
Local TV footage depicted a large burst of fire and smoke from the Japan Airlines plane during its taxi, with the wing area catching fire. An hour later, the plane was completely ablaze. The coast guard aircraft, based at Haneda, was scheduled to deliver relief goods to Niigata following a recent deadly earthquake that claimed at least 48 lives.
A 17-year-old passenger from Sweden, Anton Deibe, described the chaotic scene inside the cabin, filled with smoke within minutes of landing. Passengers reacted quickly, opening emergency doors and evacuating. The intense smoke caused discomfort, leading to a rush for safety.
Transport Minister Tetsuo Saito confirmed the closure of Haneda for investigation by aviation safety authorities and the police. Efforts are underway to reopen the airport on Wednesday or sooner. Despite the incident, officials are striving to minimize delays in delivering relief goods and managing operations for the earthquake-affected region.
Haneda, being one of Japan’s busiest airports, faces challenges amid the New Year holidays. Investigations into the collision are ongoing, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.
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