In a shocking incident on Tuesday, a Japan Airlines flight connecting Sapporo to Tokyo’s Haneda airport burst into flames, marking one of Japan’s worst aviation accidents. The Airbus A350 collided with a smaller Coast Guard plane just after landing, resulting in a devastating fireball that claimed the lives of five Coast Guard crew members.
Despite the severity of the collision, the response to the emergency was nothing short of extraordinary. All 379 passengers and crew members managed to escape the engulfed aircraft unharmed, thanks to efficient evacuation procedures and a quick firefighting response.
The collision occurred immediately after landing at 5:46 pm local time, with authorities investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash. The airline reported that the captain, despite having received landing clearance, likely couldn’t see the smaller Coast Guard plane below.
Satoshi Yamake, a 59-year-old telecoms sector worker on board the flight, described the terrifying moment when a rattling and a bang resonated through the cabin, followed by the sight of flames outside his window. The evacuation process, however, proved crucial in preventing what could have been a catastrophic outcome.
In video footage shared on social media, passengers can be heard shouting for help, and a child screams for the doors to be opened. Despite the initial panic, the crew swiftly deployed evacuation chutes, ensuring an orderly exit for passengers.
Tsubasa Sawada, a 28-year-old Tokyo resident, shared his experience, stating that he initially thought he was going to die when the fire started. However, he highlighted the efficiency of the evacuation procedures, with the crew deploying evacuation chutes promptly.
The situation escalated as the aircraft came to a halt on its nose, with a ball of fire erupting from underneath and thick black smoke billowing from the rear. Outside the aircraft, a massive firefighting effort involving 115 units worked tirelessly to control the blaze that started at the back of the plane and eventually engulfed the entire aircraft.
Miraculously, all passengers were evacuated within less than 20 minutes of the plane coming to a stop. The incident has sparked a thorough investigation into the collision and the subsequent events, as authorities aim to understand how a Coast Guard plane nearly collided with a passenger jet despite landing clearance.
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