Tokyo, Japan – A Japan Airlines aircraft caught fire at Tokyo’s Haneda airport following a possible collision with a Coast Guard aircraft. The incident took place on Tuesday and resulted in the aircraft becoming engulfed in flames, as shown in live footage on the public broadcaster NHK. The aircraft, carrying nearly 400 passengers and originating from Shin-Chitose airport in Hokkaido, was safely evacuated along with all passengers and crew.
This aviation accident is said to be the worst Japan has seen since 1985, when a JAL jumbo jet flying from Tokyo to Osaka crashed in central Gunma region, resulting in the tragic loss of 520 passengers and crew. The airport’s runways have been closed since the incident, and it was reported that more than 70 fire engines were deployed at the scene.
Notably, Japan has not suffered a serious commercial aviation accident in decades, making this incident particularly significant. Additionally, the Japan Coast Guard reported that the aircraft involved in the collision was an MA722 fixed-wing aircraft belonging to Haneda Air Base.
Data from FlightRadar24, an online aircraft tracker, revealed that the Japan Airlines’ Airbus A350 took off from the Sapporo airport and was en route to Tokyo. The aircraft’s last recorded ground speed was 123 knots or 227 km/hr before the tracking ceased.
As a result of the collision and subsequent fire, all 367 passengers onboard the Japan Airlines aircraft were safely evacuated, according to public broadcaster NHK.
In summary, a Japan Airlines aircraft caught fire at Tokyo’s Haneda airport after a collision with a Coast Guard aircraft, leading to the safe evacuation of all 367 passengers and crew. This significant aviation accident is the worst suffered by Japan since 1985 and has led to the closure of the airport runways.