A Japan Airlines Airbus A350 landed in what appeared to be a ball of flames on Tuesday evening local time. In videos circulated online from airport webcams, the A350 can be seen rolling down the runway with flames coming from the window and engine area.
About the Flight
The Airbus A350 was operating flight JL516 from Tomakomai (RJCC) to Tokyo Haneda Airport (RJTT). The aircraft touched down at 1747 local time, 10 minutes later than scheduled. The aircraft was an Airbus A350-941, registration JA13XJ and was two years old.
Miraculously, it has been confirmed that all 367 passengers and 12 crew members onboard the JAL flight have survived the accident, a testament to Japan’s strong safety culture.
What Caused the Accident?
This accident marks the first hull loss of an Airbus A350 since entering service over nine years ago. Reports suggest that the A350 collided with a smaller coastguard aircraft upon landing. Not currently confirmed, this is thought to be a Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft enroute to deliver aid supplies to Niigata Airport in Ishikawa Prefecture, after the area was hit by a major earthquake yesterday.
It has been confirmed that there were six souls onboard the coastguard aircraft, and that there was indeed a collision. Five out of the six onboard have been confirmed dead, with only the aircraft’s commander having survived.
Update 13:16pm: Japan’s Minister for Transport, Tetsuo Saito, has given a news conference confirming details of the accident. Speaking at this conference, Saito said:
Japan Airlines informed Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau that 379 people, including 367 passengers and 12 crew members, had been safely evacuated,”
“Regarding the coastguard plane, one captain was evacuated but five other crew members were confirmed dead.”
We will bring you further updates from this developing story as we receive them.
