A team of forensic experts from plane manufacturer Airbus and French state agency BAE will arrive in Japan on Wednesday to help authorities investigate the deadly accident involving a A350 plane at Tokyo’s Haneda airport, they said on Tuesday.
“4 @BEA_Aero investigators will be on site tomorrow joined by 5 @Airbus technical advisers,” the BEA agency said in a post on social media platform X.
The aircraft involved was MSN 538, delivered to Japan Airlines after production in November 2021 and was powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, Airbus said in a separate statement.
5 killed as planes collide, catch fire at Tokyo’s Haneda airport
5 killed as planes collide, catch fire at Tokyo’s Haneda airport
The Japan Airlines (JAL) airliner burst into flames on Tuesday as it skidded down the tarmac following a collision with a Japanese coastguard aircraft that killed five of six crew on the smaller craft.
All 367 passengers and 12 crew were evacuated from the blaze which destroyed the airliner.
The smaller plane had been bound for central Japan after Monday’s huge earthquake, Japanese transport minister Tetsuo Saito said.
Television and unverified footage shared on social media showed the airliner moving along the runway before a large eruption of orange flames and black smoke burst from beneath and behind it.
Video posted to social media platform X showed people sliding down an inflatable emergency slide from the side of the passenger plane, while flames shot out from the rear of the aircraft.
Keith Mackey, an international aviation safety consultant based in Florida, said an investigation will determine how the coastguard plane was able to be on the runway at the same time.
“The runway should have been clear,” he said, adding it is unclear if the coastguard plane was on its take-off roll, possible on an intersecting runway or still taxiing before take-off when the collision occurred.
“While military and civilian aircraft do operate under some different rules, those involving air traffic control are the same,” he said, adding that the planes were probably using different radio frequencies.
‘Battle against time’ to save survivors after huge Japan quake kills at least 48
‘Battle against time’ to save survivors after huge Japan quake kills at least 48
Mackey did praise the JAL crew for their ability to evacuate the passengers, but was stunned by other aspects of the rescue.
“I’m a bit surprised as to why the interior of the aeroplane is burning so furiously, as it should have very little flammable material in its construction.
“I’m also surprised by the apparent lack of firefighting trucks and personnel that should have been able to quell the flames,” Mackey said.
The JAL plane, reportedly an Airbus 350, had arrived from New Chitose Airport serving Sapporo on the northern island of Hokkaido. Those on board included eight children.
The coastguard plane had been preparing to fly to Ishikawa prefecture to deliver supplies after the devastating New Year’s Day earthquake, which killed at least 48 people.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida praised the deceased crew members on their way to help the victims of the quake.
“These were employees who had a high sense of mission and responsibility for the affected areas. It’s very regrettable,” he told reporters.
“I express my respect and gratitude to their sense of mission,” Kishida said.
Haneda suspended domestic flights, according to its website, but most international take-offs and landings were still operating.
Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse