Japanese ATC Recording Sheds Light on Runway Accident

Japanese aviation authorities say the Coast Guard aircraft that collided with a passenger jet at Tokyo's Haneda Airport (RJTT) had not been cleared for takeoff.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, January 03, 2024 at 02:33 PM ET

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Five people were killed when a Japan Airlines Airbus A350-900 and a Coast Guard relief airplane collided on the runway at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. [Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

A Japan Coast Guard aircraft collided with a JAL passenger jet at Tokyo's Haneda Airport after entering the runway without takeoff clearance, where the JAL flight was cleared to land.
Air traffic control transcripts contradict the Coast Guard captain's claim of clearance, showing instructions to "taxi to holding point" but no takeoff clearance.
All 379 passengers and crew aboard the JAL Airbus A350 were safely evacuated following the fiery collision.
Five of the six crew members on the Coast Guard aircraft, which was on an earthquake relief mission, died in the accident.

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Japanese aviation authorities say the Coast Guard aircraft that collided with a passenger jet at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (RJTT) had not been cleared for takeoff. However, the aircraft pulled onto the runway where the JAL Airbus A350-900 was cleared to land.

The captain of the Coast Guard aircraft—the only member of the six person crew who survived, told investigators he had been cleared onto the runway.