Haneda Airport collision: Report blames human error for crash with Japan Coast Guard aircraft

Collision in January 2024 involving JAL passenger plane and a Japan Coast Guard aircraft, had resulted in five deaths.

Listen to article

A report released by the Japan Transport Safety Board on Wednesday has concluded that human error was the primary cause of a fatal collision at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on January 2, 2024.

The incident, which involved a Japan Airlines (JAL) passenger plane and a Japan Coast Guard aircraft, resulted in five deaths and significant damage.

According to the findings, the pilot of the Japan Coast Guard plane misinterpreted air traffic control (ATC) instructions.

The air traffic controller had informed the Coast Guard pilot that the plane was "No. 1," meaning it was first in line to take off but should wait at a holding point. The pilot mistakenly interpreted this as clearance to enter the runway.

In the moments leading up to the crash, the Coast Guard pilot ordered a checklist typically performed once takeoff clearance is granted.

The pilot, who survived the crash, told investigators that he thought he had heard "cleared for takeoff" from the control tower.

The pilot also mentioned being in a hurry to complete the mission, which involved delivering emergency supplies to Niigata following recent earthquakes on Japan's west coast.

The report also cited additional contributing factors, including limited visibility due to the time of day (the accident occurred just after sunset) and air traffic control oversight.

Despite the runway occupancy alert, ATC failed to realize that the Coast Guard plane had entered the runway. Meanwhile, the JAL aircraft, descending toward the airport, did not spot the Coast Guard plane in time.

The collision occurred around 5:47 p.m. local time, and the Coast Guard plane was struck by the JAL aircraft as it landed. Of the six people on board the Coast Guard plane, five were killed.

The sole survivor, the pilot, sustained serious injuries. All 379 passengers and crew aboard the JAL flight escaped just before the jet burst into flames.

The Japan Transport Safety Board's report highlights the need for improved communication and oversight in air traffic control procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.