Five crew members died in a horrific Japan Airlines plane crash on January 2, 2024, with hundreds more evacuated. Now, passengers on board are sharing footage from inside the aircraft.
A large passenger plane collided with a Japanese Coast Guard aircraft on the runway at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on Tuesday, January 2. The coast guard plane instantly burst into flames, resulting in the death of five crew members aboard. The pilot of the Coast Guard plane was able to escape in time.
According to officials, the Coast Guard aircraft was preparing to take off to deliver aid to an area on Japan’s north coast, which was affected by a major earthquake on Monday. Initial reports claimed there was miscommunication, resulting in the horrific crash, but officials are still investigating what communications took place between the passenger plane and the Coast Guard aircraft.
Luckily, all 379 people on Japan Airlines flight JAL-516 were able to evacuate safely prior to the Airbus A350 blowing up in flames.
Following the crash, passengers are sharing footage from inside the plane.
Warning: Viewer discretion is advised.
Horrific Video Footage From Inside Japan Airlines Crash
One X user shared a video from inside the passenger plane, which shows smoke coming from the wing of the aircraft.
🚨
:- Japan Airlines plane in flames on runway at Tokyo’s Haneda airport.
:- All 379 passengers and crew on board were evacuated.
Pray for Japan😢🙏#Japan #Tokyo #JapanEarthquake #HanedaAirport #JapanAirlines #HitandRunLaw #TruckDriversProtest#OurPreciousJISOODay pic.twitter.com/nqRIhOwsQr
— Ramsa Chaudhary (@Ramkishor_jaat_) January 2, 2024
One video shows smoke filling up the inside of the aircraft with hundreds of passengers terrified.
All 400 passengers and crew on Japan Airlines safe. JAL staff amazing. How can everyone get out?pic.twitter.com/K4nhyNmgMX
— Fat Cat 🌐 (@FATCAed) January 2, 2024
Another user shared a video from the runway, showing the moment the passenger plane was engulfed in flames.
Japan Airlines Flight 516 caught fire while landing at Haneda Airport, January 2nd 2024 pic.twitter.com/Tv7P4svQr6
— non aesthetic things (@PicturesFoIder) January 2, 2024
Japan Airlines released a statement following the crash, paying tribute to the five emergency workers who died in the horrific incident.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the deceased members of the Japan Coastguard,” the statement says. “We would like to extend our sincerest apologies for the distress and inconvenience caused to our passengers, their families, and all those affected by this incident,” the airline adds.
Japan Airlines Crash Under Investigation
Director general of Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau, Hiraoka Shigenori told reporters that officials “will work with the transport ministry to determine the cause of the accident”.
“The scene needs to be preserved for that, but we will try our best for [the] earliest resuming of airport operation as it is the busy time of the year,” he added.
Shigenori confirmed that the investigation is not “not yet at the stage that we can say anything for sure about the cause of the accident”, adding that “communications with air traffic control” are also being looked into.
As of the time of publication, three of Haneda Airport’s four runways have reopened.
