In a significant update to the recent collision at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, authorities have clarified a crucial detail: the Japan Coast Guard aircraft involved in the crash with a Japan Airlines (JAL) Airbus A350 had not been cleared for takeoff. This new information sheds light on the potential causes of the tragic incident that resulted in multiple fatalities.
The coastguard’s Bombardier Dash-8 Turboprop, carrying a pilot and five passengers on a mission to aid earthquake victims, collided with the JAL plane during its landing. While all 379 passengers on the JAL flight evacuated safely despite the aircraft bursting into flames, five individuals aboard the coastguard plane lost their lives, and the pilot suffered severe injuries.
Investigations are intensifying to understand how the two aircraft ended up on the same runway. Initial reports from the control tower transcripts indicate that the JAL flight had received clearance for landing. In contrast, there is no record of the coastguard pilot being authorized for takeoff. This discrepancy raises questions about the communication and decisions made in the moments leading up to the collision.
Japan Airlines has confirmed that their aircraft had repeated the landing clearance from air traffic control before touchdown. Meanwhile, a coastguard official stated that the captain believed he had permission to enter the runway.
The Japan Safety Transport Board is leading the investigation, with international assistance from French and UK agencies. The coastguard aircraft’s voice recorder has been secured, which could provide critical insights into the cockpit’s final moments.
Tokyo police are also investigating the possibility of professional negligence contributing to the incident. Aviation experts emphasize the rarity of such accidents, often resulting from a combination of factors, including human error.
As the investigation continues, the focus is now on unraveling the sequence of events and decisions that led to one of the most severe aviation incidents at Haneda Airport in recent history.
