In a dramatic incident that unfolded at Tokyo’s Haneda airport, a Japan Airlines Airbus A350 aircraft carrying 379 passengers and crew collided with a smaller Coast Guard aircraft on the runway. The collision resulted in a massive fire that engulfed the airliner, but miraculously, all aboard the Japan Airlines flight were evacuated safely.

The Japan Airlines flight had just landed from Shin-Chitose airport on the northern island of Hokkaido when the incident occurred. The Coast Guard aircraft was on its way to Niigata airport on Japan’s west coast, carrying aid for victims of a powerful earthquake that had struck on New Year’s Day.

Live footage broadcast by public broadcaster NHK showed the airliner skidding down the runway, flames erupting from its fuselage. Despite the efforts of rescue crews, the aircraft was eventually consumed by the blaze. Social media was flooded with images and videos of passengers fleeing the smoke-filled cabin and running across the tarmac.

While all aboard the airliner were accounted for, the same could not be said for the Coast Guard aircraft. Of its six crew members, only the captain managed to escape, with the remaining five still unaccounted for at the time of reporting.

In the aftermath of the incident, all runways at Haneda were closed, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed relevant agencies to swiftly assess the damage and keep the public informed.

FAQ
What is an Airbus A350?
The Airbus A350 is a long-range, twin-engine wide-body jet airliner developed by European aerospace manufacturer Airbus.

What is the role of the Coast Guard?
The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the U.S. military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission with jurisdiction in both domestic and international waters.

What is NHK?
NHK, or Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai, is Japan’s national broadcasting organization. It is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers’ payments of a television license fee.

Glossary
Airbus A350: A long-range, twin-engine wide-body jet airliner developed by European aerospace manufacturer Airbus.
Coast Guard: A maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the U.S. military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission with jurisdiction in both domestic and international waters.
NHK: Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai, Japan’s national broadcasting organization. It is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers’ payments of a television license fee.