On January 2, 2024, A Japan Airlines flight 516 collided with a Japan Coast Guard Dash 8 which was supposedly crossing the runway and had received takeoff clearance from the tower; it was carrying relief supplies for the earthquake victims.
Flight 516, which was operated by an Airbus A350 (Reg: JA13XJ), was bound from the city of Sapporo and was cleared to land on runway 34R. In a video, that seems to be recorded from one of the security camera at the airport’s apron; it shows the Dash 8 already on the runway while the strobes of the A350 are visible behindit. In a matter of seconds there is an explosion and the A350 continues down the runway in a blaze.
The JAL crew reported that they did not spot the Dash 8, as they struck the tail of the relief plane, causing both planes to catch fire.
All 379 passengers and crew aboard the A350 were safely evacuated, with only a few injuries.
However, 5 of the 6 occupants of the Dash 8 were reported missing – presumed deceased.
What Caused the JAL A350 Accident?
The possible causes of the accident are still unclear, but some of the factors that may have contributed to it are;
- The weather conditions, which were cloudy and windy, affecting the visibility and the stability of the planes
- A human error, which may have occurred on the part of the pilots, the air traffic controllers, or the ground staff, leading to miscommunication, confusion, or negligence as they were unable to execute a go-around.
- The technical malfunction, which may have affected the navigation systems, the communication devices, or the engines of the planes, causing them to deviate from their intended paths or lose control (unlikely)
This has also raised some questions on the flow of operations at the Haneda airport, as it’s considered as one of the busiest in Asia. Airbus posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating that they have dispatched a team of specialists to assist the investigation with the Japanese Transport Safety Board (JTSB).
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