Tragedy Strikes Tokyo’s Haneda Airport: Fiery Collision Claims Lives, Prompting Urgent Aviation Safety Inquiry
By: Rachid, Jan 2, 2024 at 19:09
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In a devastating event at Tokyo’s Haneda airport on Tuesday, a catastrophic collision unfolded between a Japan Airlines Airbus A350-900 and a Japan Coast Guard De Havilland Canada DHC-8. The collision resulted in a fiery inferno that engulfed the runway, claiming the lives of five individuals aboard the Coast Guard aircraft.
The Airbus A350-900 had just completed its journey from Sapporo, arriving at 5:46 p.m. local time, when it suddenly ignited upon landing, creating a massive fireball that left a blazing trail along the runway. Miraculously, all 379 passengers, including eight infants, aboard Japan Airlines Flight 516 were safely evacuated, as confirmed by the airline. However, tragedy struck the second aircraft involved, resulting in the loss of five crew members, with the captain reported to be in critical condition according to public broadcaster NHK.
Japan Airlines’ Senior Vice President Noriyuki Aoki, in a press conference on Tuesday evening, disclosed that while four passengers were transported to hospitals, no further injuries had been reported to the airline. As investigations commence into the cause of this devastating collision, Japan Airlines’ senior vice president of corporate safety and security, Tadayuki Tsutsumi, expressed the airline’s commitment to the ongoing inquiry.
Preliminary reports suggest that the pilots of the Japan Airlines flight did not spot any aircraft on the runway before landing, as revealed by Tsutsumi. He further emphasized that the flight was proceeding with a normal landing procedure when the collision occurred, sparking the tragic accident.
Eyewitnesses described the chaotic aftermath, with the aircraft ablaze and emergency slides deployed as passengers evacuated amidst the growing flames. Over 100 fire trucks rushed to the scene, striving to contain the inferno, as captured by NHK reports.
As authorities delve deeper into this heart-wrenching incident, questions linger about the circumstances leading to the collision. The shockwaves of this tragedy resonate, emphasizing the critical importance of aviation safety and the unforeseen risks inherent in air travel.
The aviation community mourns the lives lost in this tragic collision, highlighting the profound impact and the need for rigorous safety measures to prevent such devastating events in the future.
Japan Airlines jet in flames after crash with earthquake relief plane at Tokyo airport – BBC News
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