A harrowing incident unfolded at Tokyo’s Haneda airport as a Japan Airlines plane caught fire upon landing. The alarming scene, captured by NHK, depicted flames emerging from the aircraft’s windows and underneath it.
Despite the distressing situation, the plane landed safely. However, the left-side engine burst into flames following a collision with a Japanese Coast Guard aircraft, prompting emergency measures. Rapid evacuation ensued with slides deployed on one side, ensuring all 367 passengers and crew evacuated within a incredible 90 seconds, but five out of the six coast guard officers are still unaccounted for.
The catastrophe occurred amidst Japan’s challenges, including recent earthquakes and tsunami warnings. Haneda Airport, renowned for its safety measures, has canceled flights indefinitely as investigations into the incident continue.
Meanwhile a local Japanese media outlet NHK reported that 379 passengers and crew onboard the plane were evacuated following the collision.
Tragically, five of the six crewmembers onboard the Coastguard aircraft are reported to have died in the accident.
After coming to a stop, the aircraft continued to burn, with airport fire services unable to extinguish the fire as it engulfed the plane, burning out the fuselage and causing the vertical stabilizer to come apart from the body of the aircraft.