Five Japan Coast Guard crew members were killed when their plane collided with and caught fire after colliding with another passenger aircraft at Tokyo airport, while only its pilot survived.
Cooperation between the Joint Civilian Government (JCG), a civilian institution, and Self-Defense Forces is essential during security crises; however, their roles should remain clear.
What happened?
An Airbus A350 carrying 379 passengers exploded into flames at an airport in Japan after colliding with a coast guard plane during landing. NHK footage revealed an immense fireball engulfing it, burning through large portions of its bodywork.
As it appears, a passenger jet that had flown out from Shin-Chitose Airport in Hokkaido collided with a coast guard plane on the runway at Haneda Airport in Tokyo. All passengers and crew onboard the passenger flight were evacuated safely while five out of six crew members aboard the coast guard plane were reported dead, though its captain managed to survive the impact.
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has directed relevant agencies to assess any damage quickly, according to his office. NHK reports that all runways at Haneda Airport have been closed following this collision, which happened a day after a 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck central Japan killing at least 30 people and damaging thousands of structures.
Why was the plane on the runway?
At night at an airport with many planes flying overhead, it may be difficult to identify all of their tiny lights on the runway. Pilots need permission from the tower before crossing a runway, and must double-check clearances.
NHK TV reported that a coast guard plane from Shin Chitose airport in Hokkaido’s north had taken off to Haneda airport – one of Japan’s busiest. Its crew had traveled there in order to assist relief efforts following Monday’s earthquake that hit Hokkaido island.
On Monday morning at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Hawaii, a Navy plane overshot its runway and crashed into Kaneohe Bay – home to coral reefs and breeding grounds for hammerhead sharks – plowing directly through nine people aboard its P-8A aircraft and into Kaneohe Bay containing coral reefs and breeding grounds for these predators. A spokesperson from the military reported all nine passengers escaped unharmed; part of Patrol Squadron 4 from Whidbey Island Washington with rotational deployment to Hawaii from its base on Whidbey Island Washington; its P-8A aircraft are variants of Boeing’s 737 commercial jet fleets.
What caused the plane to crash?
As it approached to land, Japan Airlines reports that their passenger plane collided with a coast guard aircraft and all 379 people on board managed to escape safely before it burst into flames.
Footage from the scene shows a large plane with flames emitting from its windows, and passengers wearing masks over their mouths in an effort to limit how much smoke they inhale.
Accident victims were aboard a Bombardier Dash-8 plane used for short-haul flights. Pilot and aviation expert Tim Atkinson states such planes may not be very large in terms of size; however, they still carry a substantial amount of fuel.
There is still no definitive cause for the collision between a Coast Guard plane and Haneda airport in Tokyo, yet all runways at Haneda remain closed while firefighters attempt to extinguish a fire at Haneda airport. According to reports, the plane was transporting relief supplies for earthquake-struck Niigata prefecture areas.
What caused the plane to burst into flames?
After landing, the plane seemed to slide down the runway before suddenly exploding into flames. Footage released by broadcaster NHK showed orange flames emanating from beneath and surrounding it.
Before the plane could become completely consumed by flames, all passengers appeared to have been evacuated safely – some running across the tarmac toward safety.
Jiji news agency reports that a coast guard plane flying from Haneda to a base in Niigata for earthquake aid delivery on New Year’s Day had five crew members missing; these have not yet been located or found.
Japan Airlines flight reportedly collided with a coast guard aircraft on landing, carrying 379 passengers and 12 crew according to Japan Airlines spokesperson. Haneda airport’s spokesperson states all flights have been suspended as firefighters try to extinguish any fire on board the Airbus A350 jet.
