A Japan aircraft caught fire on the runway of Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on Tuesday, following a reported collision with a coast guard aircraft, according to reports.
Footage from broadcaster NHK displayed the Airbus plane moving along the runway before erupting into orange flames from beneath and behind. All 367 passengers on board were successfully evacuated, as reported by NHK.
The cause of the incident remained unclear initially, but television reports suggested a collision between the Airbus and a Coast Guard aircraft. The Airbus had recently arrived from Sapporo airport on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.
A Coast Guard official at Haneda Airport, among the world’s busiest, stated they were “checking details” and confirmed the involvement of their aircraft. The television coverage depicted flames emerging from windows, the plane’s nose on the ground, and rescue workers spraying the aircraft. The runway also had burning debris.
READ ALSO: Maersk Imposes $150 Per TEU ‘Peak Season Surcharge’ on Nigeria-Bound Containers
Over 70 fire engines were deployed, according to NHK.
It’s worth noting that Japan has not experienced a significant commercial aviation accident in decades. The worst incident occurred in 1985 when a JAL jumbo jet flying from Tokyo to Osaka crashed in the central Gunma region, resulting in 520 casualties and marking one of the deadliest plane crashes globally involving a single flight.
(AFP)