- At Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, a Japan Airlines passenger plane crashed with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft, catching fire and killing five people. Japan’s national broadcaster NHK released footage of the incident, which happened just before 6 p.m. local time, showing smoke and flames emerging from the side of the Japan Airlines aircraft as it taxied on the runway. Videos show firefighters fighting to put out the fire as flames shoot out of the windows and beneath the aircraft.
- Before the aircraft was completely consumed by fire, Tetsuo Saito, the minister of transportation, verified that all 379 passengers on the Japan Airlines flight had been safely evacuated. Five crew members perished in the Coast Guard aircraft, however the pilot managed to escape.
- JAL 516, a Japan Airlines aircraft, landed at Haneda Airport from New Chitose Airport, which is located close to Sapporo. There were twelve crew members and 367 passengers on board, including eight children. According to the Tokyo Fire Department, 17 individuals were hurt.
- A video of people trapped aboard a Japan Airlines aircraft while smoke filled the cabin was shared on social media. In a matter of minutes, a passenger on the Japan Airlines aircraft reported to the Kyodo news agency that “the entire cabin was filled with smoke.” Aftonbladet, a Swedish newspaper, was informed by passenger Jonas Deibe that within minutes “the entire cabin was filled with smoke”. As of Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. local time, all areas have reopened except for the runway where the crash occurred.
- Following the event, all of the runways at Haneda Airport, one of Tokyo’s two main airports, were closed. As of Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. local time, all areas have reopened except for the runway where the crash occurred.
Source:
Newsweek
