In a tragic start to the new year, a Japan Airlines Airbus A350 flight erupted into flames following a collision with a Japanese Coast Guard aircraft at Tokyo's Haneda Airport. The devastating incident resulted in five fatalities among the Coast Guard crew and left several others injured. The collision occurred as the JAL flight, carrying 367 passengers and 12 crew members, landed on the runway and was immediately engulfed in flames.
Passengers aboard the flight described the terrifying moments when the cabin swiftly filled with smoke, leading to a desperate evacuation. Anton Deibe, a 17-year-old Swedish passenger, recounted to the Aftonbladet newspaper, "The entire cabin was filled with smoke within a few minutes... It was hell. We have no idea where we are going, so we just run out into the field. It was chaos." The footage captured the plane igniting upon landing, with flames quickly spreading across the entire aircraft.
É um verdadeiro milagre que nenhum dos 379 ocupantes do Airbus A350-900 da Japan Airlines tenha morrido no choque com uma aeronave militar (Bombardier DHC8), no aeroporto de Haneda, em Tóquio. O acidente aconteceu às 17h50, hora local.
Infelizmente, os 5 tripulantes do avião… pic.twitter.com/sbHmP8eL39 — Leandro Ruschel (@leandroruschel) January 2, 2024
The Coast Guard aircraft, identified as a Bombardier Dash-8, was on a mission to deliver emergency goods to Niigata, a region affected by a recent earthquake that claimed at least 48 lives. Transport Minister Tetsuo Saito expressed his deep regret, stating, "This is a great regret as the crew members performed their duties with a strong sense of mission and responsibility for the victims of the disaster area."
As the investigation unfolds, the cause of the collision remains unclear. Former Japan Airlines captain Hiroyuki Kobayashi speculated to NHK News that the fire might have been triggered by sparks reaching the plane's fuel tank upon impact. He remarked, "Judging from the speed of the fire, it is possible that the fire caused by the impact of the aircraft's collision ignited the fuel tank inside the wing."
In the aftermath of the disaster, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged to ensure that the accident does not disrupt the delivery of earthquake relief supplies. The JAL flight had originated from New Chitose Airport near Sapporo and was met with a swift and comprehensive response from emergency services.
As the world watches, authorities, including the Japan Transport Safety Board and the police, are working tirelessly to uncover the circumstances leading to this tragic event. The incident serves as a somber reminder of the importance of rigorous safety protocols in the aviation industry and the profound impact such accidents have on families, communities, and the nation.
