Tokyo: Tragedy struck at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport as a Coast Guard plane collided with a Japan Airlines aircraft, resulting in the loss of five crew members aboard the Coast Guard plane. Reports from NHK TV also indicate that the captain sustained serious injuries.
Earlier, a Japan Airlines aircraft caught fire on the runway, reportedly due to a collision with a coast guard plane. Footage from NHK displayed the plane’s movement before erupting into flames.
All 367 passengers onboard the Airbus were safely evacuated, according to NHK. Although the cause wasn’t immediately apparent, reports indicated a collision between the Airbus and the coast guard aircraft.
The flight had recently arrived from Sapporo airport in Hokkaido, as mentioned in reports. At Haneda Airport, a coast guard official, amidst the bustling environment, mentioned they were verifying details but confirmed their plane’s involvement.
Television footage captured flames emerging from windows and the plane’s nose on the ground while rescue teams sprayed it. Additionally, burning debris was visible on the runway. NHK reported the deployment of over 70 fire engines to the scene.
Japan, known for its aviation safety, hadn’t encountered a severe commercial aviation incident for decades. The most tragic occurred in 1985, with a JAL jumbo jet crash from Tokyo to Osaka, claiming 520 lives in central Gunma region—a catastrophic event in aviation history involving a single flight.