5 People Dead as Aircraft Catches Fire in Japan Airport Collision

Fatalities occur as a Japan Coast Guard aircraft collides with a Japan Airlines passenger plane on the ground, resulting in a fiery incident at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on Tuesday.

All 379 passengers and crew on board the passenger plane which burst into flames were safely evacuated, Japanese transport minister Tetsuo Saito told reporters.

But five of the six crew members from the smaller plane — bound for central Japan after Monday’s huge earthquake — died, Saito said.

The captain escaped and survived but was injured, he said, cautioning that “we’re not at the stage to explain the cause” of the accident.

Also Read: Japan earthquake casualties toll rises to 62, rescuers battle aftershocks

Dramatic Scenes Unfold as Japan Airlines Plane Erupts in Flames at Haneda Airport

Television and unverified footage shared on social media showed the Japan Airlines (JAL) airliner moving along the runway before a large eruption of orange flames and black smoke burst from beneath and behind it.

Video posted to social media platform X showed people sliding down an inflatable emergency slide from the side of the passenger plane while flames shot out from the rear of the aircraft.

All 367 passengers plus 12 crew onboard were swiftly taken off the plane before dozens of fire engines with flashing blue lights sprayed the fuselage.

They however failed to put out the flames coming out of windows near the wings and the blaze soon engulfed the entire aircraft.

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