TOKYO. Colliding on the runway at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on Tuesday, a passenger plane and a Japanese coast guard aircraft erupted into flames, claiming the lives of five individuals aboard the smaller aircraft. This collision, involving one of the industry’s newest large passenger planes, the Airbus A350, which entered commercial service in 2015, marked a tragic incident.
Transport Minister Tetsuo Saito confirmed that all 379 passengers on Japan Airlines flight JAL-516 managed to evacuate safely before the aircraft became engulfed in flames. However, the pilot of the coast guard plane escaped, while the five crew members on board lost their lives.
This marks the first significant damage to an Airbus A350, a twin-engine, twin-aisle aircraft widely used by long-haul international carriers. Airbus, in a statement, expressed its commitment to assisting Japanese and French authorities. The affected plane had been delivered to Japan Airlines in late 2021.
The coast guard aircraft, a Bombardier Dash-8, based at Haneda, was scheduled to deliver relief goods to residents affected by a recent earthquake in Niigata. Coast guard spokesperson Yoshinori Yanagishima reported that the pilot informed the base about the explosion after colliding with the commercial plane.
According to Vice Commander Yoshio Seguchi, the collision occurred as the JAL plane landed on one of Haneda’s runways, where the coast guard aircraft was preparing for takeoff. Transport safety officials are currently analyzing communication records between aviation control officials and the involved aircraft, with plans to interview JAL officials to determine the cause of the collision.
Shigenori Hiraoka, head of the Transport Ministry Civil Aviation Bureau, commended Japan Airlines for its “appropriate procedures” that ensured the safe evacuation of all passengers and crew members.
Passengers on board described the chaotic scene, with smoke filling the cabin within minutes. Anton Deibe, a 17-year-old passenger, recounted the panic as emergency doors were opened, and passengers rushed to exit the plane into an uncertain field.
Transport Minister Saito assured that efforts were underway to prevent any delays in the delivery of relief goods and other operations for the disaster-hit region. Haneda Airport’s three other runways have been reopened, with officials working to restore normal operations.
Haneda, one of Tokyo’s major airports, caters to a significant number of international and transcontinental flights and is known for its popularity among business travelers due to its proximity to central parts of the city.
The International Air Transport Association expressed condolences on social media, stating, “the last two days have been difficult for Japan,” while investigations into the tragic incident continue.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
