Human error as the main cause – Aviation.Direct

On January 2, 2024, a serious incident occurred at Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND), dramatically underscoring aviation safety precautions and human error in crisis situations.

A Japan Airlines Airbus A350 collided with a Japan Coast Guard Bombardier Dash 8 as both aircraft landed on runway 34R. The initial reports of the accident and the preliminary investigation by the Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) highlight a variety of failures that ultimately led to this catastrophic collision. Although there were tragic losses and destruction, it is astonishing to note that all 379 passengers and crew of the Airbus A350 survived unharmed – a feat attributed to the rapid and coordinated evacuation.

The course of the accident

On January 2, the Japanese Coast Guard Dash 8 landed on Runway 34R after being reused from an emergency mission. She was traveling to rescue victims of the devastating 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula and surrounding areas the previous day. At this time, Japan Airlines’ Airbus A350-900 was also noticed making its final approach to the same runway it was also heading for.

According to the Japan Transport Safety Board’s preliminary report, the collision was caused by a series of misunderstandings and oversights. Initially, the Dash 8 crew incorrectly assumed that they had been cleared to use the runway, even though this was not the case. At the same time, the air traffic controller in Tokyo did not realize that Dash 8 had already entered the runway and that the runway occupancy alarm, indicating a possible collision, had already been sounding for about a minute. This delay in detection and response contributed significantly to the accident.

The Dash 8 was already on the runway when the Airbus A350 collided with it. The impact set the smaller aircraft on fire, killing five Coast Guard crew members. The captain of Dash 8 survived with serious injuries. On the other hand, the Airbus A350, which landed with 379 people on board, was also seriously damaged – the fire under the fuselage of the aircraft also caused considerable damage to the wide-body aircraft – but the aircraft continued to roll and was finally brought to a standstill.

Evacuation and rescue operations

Despite the dramatic events, the evacuation of the Airbus A350 was carried out with impressive efficiency. Thanks to the cabin crew’s quick actions and the structured evacuation plan, all 367 passengers and 12 crew members left the aircraft unharmed. The emergency exits were opened after about six minutes and cabin crew instructed passengers to evacuate in a calm and orderly manner.

The evacuation was complicated by the malfunction of the intercom system, which stopped working after the collision. The cabin crew therefore had to resort to loud communication to warn and give instructions to passengers. It is particularly noteworthy that this evacuation was carried out almost perfectly despite the difficult conditions – such as smoke and damaged communications. Although one passenger suffered serious injuries and four others suffered minor injuries, there were no fatalities among Japan Airlines passengers.

Lack of communication and coordination

The accident investigation is ongoing, but preliminary findings from the Japan Transport Safety Board reveal serious deficiencies in communication and coordination between the parties involved. In particular, incorrect communication between the coast guard and air traffic controllers contributed significantly to the collision. The Dash 8 crew remained focused on their humanitarian mission throughout the incident, ignoring runway clearance and warning signals. At the same time, air traffic controllers responded too late to the runway occupancy alarm and missed the opportunity to warn the Japan Airlines crew in time.

It is also notable that visibility conditions were poor that day, making rapid identification of Dash 8 by the A350 crew difficult. If the smaller aircraft had been recognized by the A350 crew, the captain would most likely have attempted a go-around to avoid a collision. However, combined with the other communication deficiencies, these visual limitations contributed to the failure to prevent the accident.

Further investigation and possible consequences

Although the cause of the accident was primarily due to human error, the incident remains a complex case that still raises many questions. The final investigation will also shed light on the role of the aviation authorities involved, air traffic controllers and other security measures at Haneda Airport.

Given the dramatic circumstances, it is remarkable that the accident did not result in even greater losses. The rapid and coordinated evacuation carried out by the cabin crew in extreme conditions is a testament to the Japanese airlines’ training system. However, investigators are also expected to make recommendations in their final report to improve communications and security protocols at airports worldwide to prevent such incidents in the future.

The accident between the Japanese Coast Guard’s Dash 8 and the Japan Airlines Airbus A350 represents a tragic moment in aviation history in which human error played a role on multiple levels. The collision itself was a dramatic event, but the crew’s quick actions and efficient evacuation of the A350 saved lives. The ongoing investigation will reveal further details and hopefully contribute to improving global aviation safety standards.