Tragic news struck last night, Tokyo local time, of a collision between a Japan Airlines Airbus A350 aircraft and a Tokyo Coastguard Dash 8-300. As the sun rises in Tokyo, new photos have emerged of the aftermath of the collision.
Recap: What Happened
Japan Airlines flight 516 operating from Tomakomai (RJCC) to Tokyo Haneda Airport (RJTT). The aircraft touched down at 1747 local time, 10 minutes later than scheduled, striking a Tokyo Coastguard Dash 8-300. Five crew members of the Dash 8 were pronounced dead at the scene, with one (the aircraft commander) taken to hospital with severe injuries. Miraculously all 367 passengers and 12 crew members aboard the Airbus A350 evacuated successfully, with no major injuries.
As reported by local media, NHK, JAL flight 516 had been given permission by air traffic control to land on runway 34R at Tokyo Haneda Airport, with the Tokyo Coastguard Dash 8 ordered to hold short of the runway on taxiway C2. The aircraft was due to deliver aid to the city of Niigata following a deadly New Year’s Day earthquake in the region.
Footage from an airport webcam however, showed the two aircraft colliding in a fireball which engulfed both aircraft. The only survivor of the Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft, now named as Captain Genki Miyamoto aged 39, reportedly pulled himself from the wreckage before radioing for help stating “The aircraft exploded on the runway. I escaped. The [condition of the] other crew members is unknown”. He has now been hospitalised.
New Photos Emerge
As sunrise hit Tokyo, new photos show the devastating damage to the Airbus A350 and Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft. The incident marks the first hull loss of an Airbus A350 aircraft.
Travel Radar will continue bringing you the latest updates as we receive them.
