Tokyo plane collision: French forensic experts to probe accident that killed 5 at Haneda airport
- Forensic experts from Airbus and French state agency BAE will arrive in Japan on Wednesday to help investigate the deadly accident at Haneda airport
- The aircraft involved was delivered to Japan Airlines after production in November 2021 and was powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, Airbus said
“4 @BEA_Aero investigators will be on site tomorrow joined by 5 @Airbus technical advisers,” the BEA agency said in a post on social media platform X.
The aircraft involved was MSN 538, delivered to Japan Airlines after production in November 2021 and was powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, Airbus said in a separate statement.
All 367 passengers and 12 crew were evacuated from the blaze that destroyed the airliner.
5 killed as planes collide, catch fire at Tokyo’s Haneda airport
Television and unverified footage shared on social media showed the airliner moving along the runway before a large eruption of orange flames and black smoke burst from beneath and behind it.
Video posted to social media platform X showed people sliding down an inflatable emergency slide from the side of the passenger plane, while flames shot out from the rear of the aircraft. The burned-out husk of the airliner, still sitting on the tarmac on Wednesday, bore witness to just how narrow their escape had been.
Keith M Cianfrani, president and CEO of the US-based Aviation Safety Consultants, said that according to reports, the Japan Airlines plane was given clearance to land.
“It appears that the coastguard aircraft was in the wrong position on the airport, on the active runway,” he said.
It is difficult to say why the coastguard aircraft was on the active runway
“Normally, departing aircraft will be given an instruction by air traffic control to taxi into position and hold for landing aircraft.”
Cianfrani said the coastguard aircraft could have been “given instructions to move into position or it mistakenly moved on its own”.
“It was at night so it is always more difficult to see,” he said.
“If all air traffic control directions were adhered to, it is difficult to say why the coastguard aircraft was on the active runway until an investigation is conducted.”
He added that the JAL aircraft crew did a good job of evacuating the passengers, “especially at night with a burning aircraft”.
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Five killed after coastguard plane collides with Japan Airlines passenger jet at Haneda airport
The JAL plane, reportedly an Airbus 350, had arrived from New Chitose Airport serving Sapporo on the northern island of Hokkaido. Those on board included eight children.
The coastguard plane had been preparing to fly to Ishikawa prefecture to deliver supplies after the devastating New Year’s Day earthquake, which killed at least 48 people.
‘Battle against time’ to save survivors after huge Japan quake kills at least 48
“These were employees who had a high sense of mission and responsibility for the affected areas. It’s very regrettable,” he told reporters.
“I express my respect and gratitude to their sense of mission,” Kishida said.
Haneda suspended domestic flights, according to its website, but most international take-offs and landings were still operating.
Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse, Maria Siow
