TOKYO, Japan – Following a series of over 150 earthquakes, a tragic accident occurred at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on Tuesday when a Japan Airlines (JAL) passenger plane collided with a coast guard aircraft on the runway, leading to a burst of flames that resulted in the death of five out of six crew members aboard the coast guard plane. However, all passengers and crew members on the Airbus A350 survived, thanks to the successful evacuations by fire crews and JAL officials, despite the plane being engulfed in flames for at least six hours. The accident is expected to undergo scrutiny for potential professional negligence.
JAL was commended for its effective procedures in evacuating all passengers and crew members. The calm and swift actions of cabin attendants, and a successful evacuation using escape chutes within 20 minutes, contributed to the survival of all individuals aboard. Experts attribute the successful evacuation to modern safety standards and JAL’s safety culture. Safety agencies have long warned against pausing to collect carry-on bags during an evacuation, emphasizing the risk it poses to lives.
The aircraft’s in-flight announcement system malfunctioned during the evacuation, yet the cabin crew effectively used megaphones to convey instructions. While the cause of the collision is under investigation, Airbus is working with Japanese and French officials to probe the accident. The collision led to the closure of Haneda Airport for several hours, during which time authorities focused on ensuring the incident did not hinder deliveries of earthquake relief supplies.
Tuesday’s accident marked the first severe damage to an Airbus A350, a plane known for its use of carbon-composite fibers in fuselages. The experience of the crew in handling the crisis has been attributed to Japan Airlines’ strict adherence to safety guidelines. Notably, the airline has been recognized for its excellent safety record despite a tragic incident in 1985 that resulted in 520 fatalities due to a faulty repair of a JAL flight by Boeing technicians.
With 14 passengers sustaining injuries, attention has turned towards analyzing communication between aviation control officials and the two aircraft, as well as interviewing JAL officials to determine the cause of the collision. The incident is viewed as a critical evaluation of airplane fuselages made from carbon-composite fibers rather than conventional aluminum skins. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed condolences over the deaths of the coast guard crew members and reassured that Haneda Airport has since resumed operations.