Japan, which was hit recently by a massive earthquake, saw another accident when two planes collided and burst into flames. Hundreds of passengers had a miraculous escape from what could have turned out into a major tragedy.
The Japanese Airline plane with 379 passengers and crew members had a miraculous escape when it collided with a small Japan Coast Guard plane and burst into flames. Videos shot by the passengers showed flames of fire engulfing the plane. The emergency chutes were opened and the passengers escaped to safety.
More than eight fire tenders were put into action and the planes were enveloped in foam. However, it took hours for the fires to be extinguished. The Airline plane was completely gutted and even after many hours, the smoke could be seen rising from the plane.
The occupants of the ill-fated Japan Coast Guard plane were not lucky and five of the six occupants were reported killed in the accident. The captain of the plane has survived but is seriously injured. The accident happened on a runway at Tokyo’s Haneda airport. The Japan Airlines plane was on its flight from Sapporo on the northern island of Hokkaido.
It is still not clear how the two planes ended up on the same runway and the accident happened. The flights from the airport have been suspended and a full investigation has been launched by the airport authorities as well as the Coast Guard. The Japanese Airline plane was an A350 which is said to be one of the most advanced transport airplanes in the world. The Japanese Coast Guard Plane is reported to be a De Havilland Dash 8 turboprop and was involved in a rescue operation after the Earthquake which struck Central Japan on New Year.
Airport experts have been warning that such a situation can happen especially since most airports are overcrowded and the time between departures and arrivals of aircrafts gets smaller. Haneda Airport is one of the two International airports and faces very heavy traffic. The New Year has also led to most Airlines running to packed capacity and numerous extra flights have also been in operation to cater to the New Year rush.
The Japanese Prime Minister went on air to mourn the loss and also congratulated the Airline crew whose quick action prevented what could have been a massive tragedy.
Also Read: Death Toll Reaches 8 After Massive 7.5 Earthquake Hits Central Japan
