Japan Commemorates One Year Since Tragic Haneda Airport Collision

On January 2, Japan observed the one-year anniversary of a tragic incident at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, where a collision occurred between a Japan Airlines jet and a Japan Coast Guard aircraft. The accident resulted in the deaths of five out of six individuals on board the coast guard's Bombardier DHC-8-300, while all 379 passengers aboard the Japan Airlines Airbus A350 survived despite the aircraft being engulfed in flames.

The coast guard plane was preparing for a flight to Niigata Prefecture, aimed at delivering essential relief supplies to areas affected by a severe earthquake measuring 7.6 that had struck the Noto Peninsula the day prior.

Ongoing investigations by local authorities are examining the circumstances surrounding the collision, focusing on potential professional negligence that may have led to the fatalities and injuries. As part of the inquiry, police have conducted inspections of the runway and interrogated the pilots of both aircraft, as well as the airport traffic controllers.

Recent analyses of flight recordings from the coast guard aircraft revealed that its crew likely misinterpreted their clearance status and believed they had permission to enter the runway just before the collision occurred.

A report by the Japan Transport Safety Board indicated that a traffic controller was primarily focused on the incoming Japan Airlines flight and failed to notice the unauthorized entry of the coast guard plane onto the runway. Additionally, the crew of the Japan Airlines jet was unable to visually identify the coast guard aircraft prior to landing, as both the runway and the plane were illuminated with white lights. The incident took place after sunset, with minimal moonlight further complicating visibility conditions.

In related developments, Japan also marked the one-year anniversary of the Noto earthquake, with ongoing challenges in the rebuilding efforts for the affected regions.