Five of the six crew members on the Coast Guard aircraft were killed in the crash, and the sixth, the pilot escaped with some injuries. The aircraft had been due to transport aid to regions hit by a 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck Japan on Monday.
The Ministry of Transport in Japan released a transcript that confirmed the A350 crew had been cleared to land:
JAL516: 17:43:02 "Tokyo Tower, JAL516 Spot 18"
Control Tower: 17:43:02 "JAL516 Tokyo Tower, good evening, Runway 34R, continue approach, wind 320/7, we have departure"
JAL516: 17:43:12 "JAL516 continue approach 34R"
Control Tower: 17:44:56 "JAL516 Runway 34R cleared to land, wind 310/8
JAL516: 17:45:01 "Cleared to land, runway 34R, JAL516"
JA722A: 17:45:11 "Tower, JA722A, C"
Control Tower: 17:45:11 "JA722A, Tokyo tower, good evening, No:1 taxi to holding point C5"
JA722A: 17:45:19 "Taxi to holding point C5, JA722A No:1, thank you"
Japan Airlines flight details:
Date and Time: January 2, 2024 (Tuesday) around 17:47 (JST)
Location: Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport), Runway C
Flight Number: JL516
Departure: New Chitose Airport - Scheduled departure time: 15:50 - Actual departure time: 16:15
Arrival: Haneda Airport - Scheduled arrival time: 17:35 - Actual arrival time: 17:47
Number of Passengers: 359 adults + 8 infants = 367 in total
Number of Crew: 3 cockpit crew members + 9 cabin crew members = 12 in total
Passenger Situation: 1 person with bruising, 13 people requested medical consultation due to physical
discomfort
Aircraft Type and Registration: Airbus A350-900, Registration Number JA13XJ
Aircraft Condition: Total loss
The carrier released the following summary:
After departing from New Chitose Airport at 16:15 on January 2, the aircraft flew smoothly (*1), and after landing at Haneda Airport Runway C at 17:47 (*2), the aircraft collided with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft and caught fire. All passengers and crew members on our flight successfully performed an emergency evacuation (*3). Support is being provided to each passenger in terms of their condition and assistance for their return home.
(*1) The aircraft did not experience any issues or irregularities during its departure from New Chitose Airport or throughout the flight.
(*2) According to interviews with the operating crew, they acknowledged and repeated the landing permission from air traffic control, and then proceeded with the approach and landing procedures.
(*3) The aircraft’s announcement system malfunctioned during the evacuation, so cabin crew members conducted instructions using a megaphone and their voices. Cabin crew members determined safe exits for evacuation, and all passengers and crew members evacuated through three emergency exits.
Currently, detailed information and the cause of the accident are under investigation, and full cooperation with the investigation will be provided.
The airline also said; "Sincere apologies are offered for the considerable concerns and inconveniences caused to our customers, their families, and everyone involved. Full cooperation will be provided in the investigation of the incident."
Various media outlets have published unconfirmed reports that the lights at the holding point of C5 were not illuminated at the time of the incident.
The crash is estimated to cost Japan Airlines around 15 billion yen /$104.81 million, which issued an earnings forecast warning in the wake of the disaster. Whilst the lead insurer of the lost A350, AIG will pay out on the hull loss, the associated costs revolving around the crash would be around 15 billion yen.
