A devastating collision at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport last year, involving a Japan Airlines passenger flight and a Coast Guard plane, was the result of multiple human errors, according to a recent investigation.
At a Glance
- The collision occurred on January 2, resulting in five deaths on the Coast Guard plane
- All 379 passengers and crew on the Japan Airlines flight were safely evacuated
- The Coast Guard captain mistakenly believed he had clearance to enter the runway
- Air traffic controllers missed a warning alert about the unauthorized runway entry
- The Japan Transport Safety Board’s report cites multiple instances of human error
The Tragic Incident
On January 2 of last year, a Japan Airlines flight carrying 367 passengers and 12 crew members collided with a Japanese Coast Guard aircraft at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. The Coast Guard plane was en route to provide earthquake relief in western Japan. The collision resulted in both planes bursting into flames, leading to a dramatic evacuation of the passenger jet and the tragic loss of five Coast Guard crew members.
The Japan Transport Safety Board’s investigation has revealed that this catastrophic event was the culmination of several human errors, highlighting critical lapses in communication and oversight within air traffic control procedures.
A series of human errors caused a collision between a Japan Coast Guard aircraft and a Japan Airlines passenger plane at Haneda Airport at the start of 2024, a safety board report said. https://t.co/soMoqfxMBz
— The Japan Times (@japantimes) December 25, 2024
Communication Breakdown
At the heart of the tragedy was a severe miscommunication. The Coast Guard aircraft’s captain, who sustained severe injuries in the crash, erroneously believed he had received clearance to enter the runway. This misunderstanding stemmed from a partial confirmation of instructions with his co-pilot and an assumption of priority clearance due to their earthquake relief mission. In the weeks following the crash, the Coast Guard captain told investigators that he believed he had gotten clearance to enter the runway.
This critical error led to the unauthorized entry onto the active runway, setting the stage for the impending disaster. The investigation revealed that the captain’s mistaken belief, coupled with inadequate communication protocols, played a pivotal role in the sequence of events leading to the collision.
Air Traffic Control Oversights
The report also highlighted significant oversights in air traffic control operations. Controllers were primarily focused on the Japan Airlines flight and failed to notice a crucial warning alert about the Coast Guard plane’s unauthorized runway entry. This lapse in attention prevented any last-minute interventions that could have potentially averted the collision.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, the Japan Airlines plane did not detect the Coast Guard aircraft on the runway. Investigators suspect this may have been due to overlapping runway and aircraft lights, creating a visual confusion that further contributed to the accident.
The current report is an interim assessment, with a final, more comprehensive report expected to follow. This upcoming document will include further analysis and, crucially, recommendations aimed at preventing similar accidents in the future. The aviation industry and regulatory bodies are likely to scrutinize these findings closely to implement necessary changes in safety protocols and communication procedures.
As the investigation continues, there is a growing emphasis on enhancing training for air traffic controllers and pilots, particularly in high-stress situations.
