A passenger plane collided with a Japanese coast guard aircraft and burst into flames on the runway of Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on Tuesday, officials said. NHK TV reported that all occupants of Japan Airlines flight JAL-516, believed to total 379 people, got out safely before the plane was entirely engulfed in flames. The Japanese coast guard said the pilot of its plane had escaped. NHK reported that the five other crewmembers had been found dead.
Quick Read
- Collision at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport: A passenger plane collided with a Japanese coast guard aircraft at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, resulting in a fire on the runway.
- Passengers and Crew Safety: All occupants of Japan Airlines flight JAL-516, estimated at 379 people, evacuated safely before the plane was fully engulfed in flames. The pilot of the coast guard plane escaped, but five other crew members were reported dead.
- Dramatic Fire Incident: Local TV footage showed a significant fire and smoke eruption from the side of the Japan Airlines plane. The fire initially appeared around the wing area and later engulfed the entire aircraft.
- Flight Details: The involved Japan Airlines plane, an Airbus A-350, had flown from Shin Chitose airport near Sapporo to Haneda.
- Planes Involved in the Collision: The collision occurred between the Japan Airlines passenger plane and the Japanese coast guard’s flight MA-722, a Bombardier Dash-8.
- Passenger Account of the Incident: Anton Deibe, a 17-year-old passenger on the Japan Airlines flight, described a chaotic scene with the cabin filling with smoke, forcing passengers to escape through emergency doors and run out into the field.
- Coast Guard Plane’s Mission: The coast guard plane was reportedly on a mission to deliver relief goods to Niigata for residents affected by a recent deadly earthquake.
- Haneda Airport During New Year Holidays: Haneda Airport, one of Japan’s busiest, was particularly crowded due to travel over the New Year holidays.
The Associated Press has the story:
Plane catches fire on runway at Japan’s Haneda airport after collision
Newslooks- TOKYO (AP)
A passenger plane collided with a Japanese coast guard aircraft and burst into flames on the runway of Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on Tuesday, officials said.
NHK TV reported that all occupants of Japan Airlines flight JAL-516, believed to total 379 people, got out safely before the plane was entirely engulfed in flames. The Japanese coast guard said the pilot of its plane had escaped. NHK reported that the five other crewmembers had been found dead.
Local TV video showed a large eruption of fire and smoke from the side of the Japan Airlines plane as it taxied on a runway. The area around the wing then caught fire. Footage an hour later showed the plane fully on fire.
NHK TV said the plane was an Airbus A-350 that had flown from Shin Chitose airport, near the city of Sapporo, to Haneda.
Coast Guard spokesperson Yoshinori Yanagishima confirmed the collision between the passenger plane and its flight MA-722, a Bombardier Dash-8.
Swede Anton Deibe, 17, who was a passenger on the Japan Airlines plane, told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet that “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.
Kyodo said the coast guard plane, which is based at Haneda, had been due to head to Niigata to deliver relief goods to residents affected by a deadly earthquake in the region on Monday that killed at least 48 people.
Haneda is one of the busiest airports in Japan, and many people travel over the New Year holidays.
