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Japan's prestigious safety record in commercial aviation came to an abrupt end on January 2, 2024, when one of the worst accidents in four decades involving Japan Airlines occurred at Tokyo's Haneda International Airport. This accident also marks the worst aircraft crash in Japan since 2009 and the first total loss of an Airbus A350 since its introduction in 2014.
At 5:47 p.m. (local time), an Airbus A350900, registered under registration number JA13XJ, of Japan Airlines (JAL) landed in Haneda from Sapporo with 367 passengers and 12 crew members. While landing, it unexpectedly collided with a Japanese Coast Guard Dash 8300MPA Register JA722A, which was preparing to take off for Niigata with six crew members and a cargo of humanitarian aid.
The collision resulted in a fire that left the A350 engulfed in flames, while the Dash 8 was completely destroyed, resulting in a temporary closure of air traffic at Haneda International Airport.
Everyone on board the Japan Airlines plane managed to evacuate in time and avoid major tragedies before the flames completely destroyed the A350. Unfortunately, five crew members died on board Dash 8, leaving the commander as the only survivor in serious condition.
The investigation and conclusion of the accident is now the responsibility of the Japan Transportation Safety Board (JTSB).
Japan Airlines: a perfect track record
According to records obtained by Aviacionline, the last serious accident on Japanese territory occurred on March 23, 2009, when a FedEx Express McDonnell Douglas MD11F crashed while attempting to land at Narita International Airport, which according to the final incident report resulted in poor actions by both pilots and a hidden failure of the MD11.
But for Japanese aviation, an impeccable safety record has been a hallmark since the 1980s, considering that no local airline has suffered total aircraft losses or fatalities. However, foreign airlines have also had serious accidents on Japanese soil, such as China Airlines Flight 140, in which incorrect approach configuration and pilot error on an Airbus A300 led to a crash at Nagoya International Airport, killing 264 people . 271 on board.
Back to the local airlines: The last major accident involving Japan Airlines (JAL) with the total loss of an aircraft occurred on August 15, 1985.
On that day, flight JL123, operated by a Boeing 747SR, took off from Haneda to Osaka with 509 passengers and 15 crew members. Due to a botched repair after a tail impact in 1978, part of the tail separated, causing rapid decompression and the loss of all onboard hydraulic systems, rendering the flight controls unusable.
The pilots' quick response included struggling to keep the heavy Boeing 747 in the air despite altitude differences and loss of control. After 45 minutes of combat, the pilots completely lost control while trying to reach an air base and collided with a mountain range. Only four passengers survived, marking the largest single aircraft disaster in commercial aviation history.
Haneda: Decades without any serious incidents
At Tokyo Haneda International Airport, four decades have passed since the last major incident, with Japan Airlines once again taking center stage.
On February 9, 1982, JAL Flight 350, operated by a McDonnell Douglas DC861, arrived from Fukuoka with 166 passengers and 8 crew. According to the investigation, the aircraft was approaching normally until commander Katagiri intentionally activated the reverser at low altitude. The first officer and the flight engineer tried to intervene quickly.
Despite their efforts, the DC8's descent could not be fully controlled and landed in shallow water 510 meters (1,673 feet) from the runway. The accident caused the cabin section to separate from the rest of the fuselage, resulting in 24 deaths.
The investigation revealed that Commander Katagiri suffered from paranoid schizophrenia before the incident, which led to him being found not guilty by reason of insanity. He currently lives near Mount Fuji.
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