In a tragic incident at Tokyo's Haneda Airport, over 100 flights were expected to be canceled following a collision between a Japan Airlines jet and a Japanese Coast Guard plane. The collision, which occurred on Tuesday, resulted in the loss of five crew members on the Coast Guard flight. Newly released audio recordings shed light on the moments leading up to the incident, revealing that air traffic control had cleared the commercial flight to land.
The official transcript, released by the transport ministry, detailed the crucial four minutes between 5:43 p.m. and 5:47 p.m. local time. During this time, the Coast Guard turboprop aircraft was taxiing on the runway for takeoff, while the Japan airliner was on its final descent into Haneda. The recording captured the instructions given by the commercial flight to air traffic control, as well as the instructions provided to the Coast Guard plane.
Despite having received clearance to land on runway C, the Japan airliner ended up colliding with the Coast Guard plane, which was instructed to remain at the holding point. The collision resulted in a massive fireball, claiming the lives of at least five Coast Guard crew members. Fortunately, all passengers on board the commercial flight were able to evacuate just seconds before the impact.
Questions have been raised regarding the knowledge and communication breakdown surrounding the positioning of the Coast Guard plane. Did the pilot not know their location, or was air traffic control unaware of the plane's actual position when instructing it to wait at the holding point? Additionally, investigators are also looking into why none of the three pilots in the Japanese airliner's cockpit noticed the obstruction and aborted the landing. Unfortunately, the cockpit voice recorder for the commercial plane remains unlocated, while the Coast Guard aircraft's recorder has been recovered, further complicating the search for answers.
Japan Airlines has also reported a malfunction in the in-flight system during the evacuation of passengers, forcing crew members to employ megaphones for communication. Eyewitness videos from inside the plane captured the chaotic scene, with reports of malfunctioning exit doors and the cabin rapidly filling with black smoke and flames. However, amidst the chaos, passengers remained calm and followed instructions, successfully evacuating the aircraft without any argument or pushing.
This incident serves as a stark reminder for all air travelers to prioritize safety and follow instructions given by the flight crew during emergencies. Investigations are ongoing, and authorities continue to search for additional information to determine the cause of this tragic collision.
