![Tokyo runway collision: 5 Coast Guard crew dead; 379 onboard Japan Airlines escape unhurt](https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/stsp/to_webp,q_lossy,ret_img/https://static.toiimg.com/thumb/msid-106485663,width-1070,height-580,imgsize-668070,resizemode-75,overlay-toi_sw,pt-32,y_pad-40/photo.jpg)
NEW DELHI: All 379 people on board a Japan Airlines plane miraculously survived a devastating fire following a collision with a Coast Guard aircraft at Tokyo’s Haneda airport on Tuesday.
However, five out of the six crew of the coast guard aircraft were found dead in the crash, while the captain escaped, a Coast Guard spokesperson said. “Regarding the coast guard plane, we have been informed that the captain escaped and five people were confirmed dead,” Japanese transport minister Tetsuo Saito told reporters.
NHK’s live broadcast showed the Japan Airlines Airbus A350 bursting into flames as it slid across the tarmac post-landing, eventually being consumed by fire despite intense firefighting efforts.
Miraculously, all 367 passengers and 12 crew members were successfully evacuated.
Japan Airlines plane catches fire on runway after colliding with coast guard aircraft at Tokyo’s Haneda airport
Social media was abuzz with harrowing images and videos of passengers in panic inside the smoke-engulfed cabin, later running across the runway from the blaze.
The Coast Guard said that the collision involved its aircraft that was headed to Niigata airport on Japan’s west coast, carrying aid for the victims of the recent New Year’s Day earthquake, which resulted in at least 48 fatalities.
A Japan Airlines spokesperson said that the flight had originated from Shin-Chitose airport in Hokkaido.
In response to the incident, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida directed pertinent agencies to quickly evaluate the situation and keep the public informed, as per his office.
Following the crash, Haneda airport has temporarily shut down all its runways, as reported by an airport spokesperson.
Haneda, being one of Japan’s busiest airports, sees high traffic, especially during the New Year holidays.
(With inputs from agencies)