TOKYO- According to reports, moments before the catastrophic collision between a Japanese coastguard plane and a Japan Airlines (JL) passenger jet, an Airbus A350, air traffic control allegedly instructed the coastguard plane to hold short of the runway.
As per Japanese broadcaster NHK, citing a source, JAL flight 516 had been granted permission by an air traffic controller to enter the runway at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport just before the collision with the coastguard aircraft, resulting in a fiery incident.
Japan Airlines A350 Crash
The collision claimed the lives of five crewmembers on the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) plane, which was preparing to take off for the purpose of delivering aid to the city of Niigata in the aftermath of the deadly New Year’s Day earthquake.
The lone survivor from the Bombardier Dash-8 maritime patrol plane has been identified as Captain Genki Miyamoto, aged 39.
Allegedly, he managed to extricate himself from the wreckage and promptly radioed for assistance, informing his base, “The aircraft exploded on the runway. I escaped. The [condition of the] other crew members is unknown.”
Fortunately, all 379 passengers and crew on the commercial JAL flight were successfully evacuated just moments before the jet succumbed to flames—a turn of events that many have hailed as a ‘miracle.’
As the sun illuminated Japan on Wednesday, disturbing images from the site revealed the charred remnants of the Airbus A350 jet, underscoring the potentially catastrophic nature of the incident that was averted.
Eerie images of the A350 jet in the daylight reveal nothing but the wings and heaps of ash, remnants left after the inferno tore through it on Tuesday night.
Haneda Airport remained closed for several hours in the aftermath of the incident, and disruptions have persisted into today, with the expectation of approximately 100 flight cancellations affecting around 19,000 passengers.
The Japan Transport Safety Board has dispatched investigators to the scene, and they will receive assistance from British and French aircraft experts to initiate a comprehensive investigation into the fatal collision.
As the investigative process commences, JAL stated last night that its crewmembers confirmed receiving landing permission from the Haneda controller. They reiterated the order before proceeding with approach and landing operations.
Miracle at Tokyo’s Haneda
At the time of departure from New Chitose Airport and throughout the flight, there were no reported issues with the aircraft, as stated by the airline.
JAL chiefs mentioned that the pilot had received clearance for landing but likely did not spot the smaller Dash-8 plane from the coastguard as it taxied on the runway.
The JAL flight, originating from Shin Chitose airport in Japan, collided with the JCG plane on runway C at Haneda airport.
Safety experts have lauded the evacuation of JAL flight 516, which occurred before it ignited into flames, describing it as “nothing short of a miracle.” Many praised the cabin crew for successfully evacuating all passengers safely.
Japan Airlines noted in a statement that the in-flight announcement system did not function during the evacuation, and crewmembers had to use megaphones to give instructions. This added challenge makes the accomplishment even more remarkable.
Japan Airlines reported that fourteen individuals on the passenger plane sustained injuries, but none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening.
Survivors have recounted their harrowing ordeals while evacuating the plane, which ignited as it skidded down the runway just before 6 pm (09:00 GMT).
Videos and images circulated on social media depict passengers yelling within the smoke-filled cabin and fleeing across the tarmac after successfully using an evacuation slide.
Television footage captured scenes of flames emerging from windows, the plane’s nose on the ground, and rescue workers dousing it with multiple water hoses. Additionally, burning debris was visible on the runway.
Aftermath
NHK reported the deployment of more than 70 fire engines to the scene, aiming to extinguish the intense inferno.
Comprehensive images from a wide angle showcased a substantial section of the runway engulfed in flames, accompanied by extensive debris scattered across the tarmac.
Simultaneously, footage captured from inside the jet depicted the cabin rapidly filling with dense smoke.
Seventeen-year-old Swedish passenger Anton Deibe shared his account with Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, stating,
“The entire cabin was filled with smoke within a few minutes. We threw ourselves down on the floor. Then, the emergency doors were opened, and we threw ourselves at them. ‘The smoke in the cabin stung like hell. It was a hell. We have no idea where we are going, so we just run out into the field. It was chaos,” added Deibe, who was traveling with his parents and sister.
In one video clip, a child’s voice can be heard urgently shouting, “Let us get out quickly! Let us get out quickly!”
Flight Operations Affected
Haneda stands as one of Japan’s busiest airports, particularly during the New Year holidays when numerous individuals embark on travels.
In the aftermath of the accident, all runways at Haneda were temporarily closed, resulting in the diversion of dozens of other planes. A transport ministry official conveyed that three runways have now resumed operations.
It is noteworthy that Japan has not experienced a significant commercial aviation accident in several decades. The most severe incident occurred in 1985, involving a JAL jumbo jet on a flight from Tokyo to Osaka.
The crash, located in the central Gunma region, claimed the lives of 520 passengers and crew, marking one of the world’s deadliest plane crashes involving a single flight.
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