Japanese authorities revealed on January 3 that the passenger jet involved in a collision with a Coast Guard turboprop at Tokyo’s Haneda airport was granted permission to land, while the smaller plane was not given clearance for take-off, based on control tower transcripts. The Japan Airlines (JAL) Airbus A350, carrying 379 people, safely evacuated all passengers as the plane caught fire after colliding with a De Havilland Dash-8 Coast Guard turboprop. Tragically, five out of six Coast Guard crew members died, and the captain was seriously injured.
The Japan Safety Transport Board (JTSB) has initiated an investigation to determine how the collision occurred and why the two aircraft were on the same runway. Initial reports suggest that the Japan Airlines jet received permission to land, while the Coast Guard aircraft was instructed to taxi to a holding point near the runway.
The incident occurred as the Coast Guard aircraft, which was about to depart for earthquake relief work on Japan’s west coast, collided with the arriving passenger jet. The investigation will delve into the circumstances leading to the collision and assess the protocols followed by air traffic control.
The tragic incident highlights the importance of air traffic control coordination and communication to prevent such accidents. The findings from the investigation will likely contribute to enhanced safety measures to avoid similar incidents in the future.
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