Tragedy at Haneda Airport: Fatal Ground Collision Engulfs Aircraft in Flames; Five Dead

In a devastating incident at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, a Japan Coast Guard aircraft collided with a Japan Airlines (JAL) passenger plane on the ground, resulting in a fiery collision that claimed the lives of five crew members aboard the coast guard plane. The incident occurred during the evacuation of all 379 passengers and crew from the JAL airliner, which burst into flames. Transport Minister Tetsuo Saito confirmed the safety of the JAL passengers but disclosed the tragic loss of five out of six crew members on the coast guard plane.

Eyewitness accounts and footage shared on social media depicted the harrowing scene, with the JAL aircraft erupting into flames on the runway. Emergency evacuations were successfully executed, with passengers sliding down inflatable emergency slides, but the fire eventually engulfed the entire plane. The coast guard plane, en route to Ishikawa prefecture to deliver supplies after the recent earthquake, collided with the JAL aircraft either on the runway or taxiway after its arrival from New Chitose Airport.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed deep regret over the loss of the crew members, acknowledging their sense of mission in aiding earthquake victims. Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the collision, involving exchanges between the flights and air traffic control. The incident led to the suspension of domestic flights at Haneda Airport, while international operations continued. This tragic event marks a rare and severe aviation accident in Japan, prompting a thorough examination of safety measures and protocols in the country’s aviation sector.