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 Japan Airlines passenger jet on a runway at Tokyo's Haneda Airport, resulting in a discrepancy over runway clearance.
Investigators state the Coast Guard aircraft was not cleared for takeoff and was instructed to "taxi to holding point," while the JAL jet had been cleared to land on the same runway.
All 379 passengers and crew aboard the Japan Airlines flight were safely evacuated, but five of the six Coast Guard crew members died in the collision.
The Coast Guard aircraft was en route to deliver earthquake relief supplies when the accident occurred.

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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.