TOKYO – Tragedy struck at Haneda airport in Tokyo when a Japan Airlines Airbus A350 collided with a De Havilland Dash-8 Coast Guard turboprop, resulting in a fiery crash. The Airbus A350 had been given permission to land, but the smaller plane had not been cleared for takeoff, according to control tower transcripts.
All 379 passengers aboard the Japan Airlines jet managed to evacuate after the collision, but unfortunately, five of the six Coast Guard crew members died in the accident. The captain of the Coast Guard aircraft, who escaped the wreckage, sustained severe injuries.
As authorities begin their investigations, there is uncertainty surrounding the circumstances of the crash, including how the two aircraft ended up on the same runway. Experts emphasize that it usually takes the failure of multiple safety measures for an airplane accident to occur.
Transcripts of traffic control instructions released by authorities indicate that the Japan Airlines jet had been given permission to land, while the Coast Guard aircraft had been instructed to taxi to a holding point near the runway. However, there was no indication in the transcripts that the Coast Guard aircraft had been granted permission to take off.
The Japan Safety Transport Board, along with agencies in France and Britain, where the Airbus jet and its engines were designed and manufactured, are investigating the accident. Additionally, the TSB safety agency in Canada, where the Coast Guard Dash-8 was originally built, will also take part in the investigation.
Police Inquiry
Meanwhile, Tokyo police are conducting an investigation to determine if possible professional negligence led to the deaths and injuries. There are concerns over tensions between civil safety investigations and police-led inquiries, as the latter are designed to apportion blame.
Aviation analyst Hiroyuki Kobayashi, a former JAL pilot, believes there is a strong possibility of human error contributing to the accident. He stated, ”Aircraft accidents very rarely occur due to a single problem, so I think that this time too there were two or three issues that led to the accident.”
As the investigation unfolds, the main focus will be on situational awareness and understanding the communication between the pilots and air traffic control. The cockpit voice recorder and air traffic tapes will provide crucial information for the investigation.
The tragic accident has led to the cancellation of numerous flights, both domestic and international, at Haneda airport. However, emergency flights and high-speed rail services have been requested to alleviate the congestion caused by the cancellations.
Michael Daniel, a former U.S. accident investigator, emphasized that the investigation will lead to recommendations aimed at improving safety measures to prevent similar accidents in the future.
Agree Who was in charge of granting clearance?
Agree Something went seriously wrong with the clearance process for this plane, leading to a dangerous collision.
Disagree Lack of clearance doesn’t necessarily mean it was the cause of the collision. Further investigation is needed to determine what really happened.