Japan Plane Fire: 5 Crew Members Killed After Jet Crash

Five people on board a Coast Guard aircraft died following a runway collision with a Japan Airlines plane at Tokyo's Haneda Airport, announced the country's transport minister, Tetsuo Saito, according to news agency AFP. "Regarding the coast guard plane, we have been informed that the captain escaped and five people were confirmed dead," Saito stated. Meanwhile, all 379 passengers and crew of the Japan Airlines aircraft managed to escape the fire that erupted subsequent to the collision. Public broadcaster NHK broadcasted footage of the aircraft engulfed in flames while rescue teams endeavored to contain the blaze.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida directed relevant agencies to swiftly coordinate and assess the damage, according to his office.

The Japan Coast Guard mentioned they were probing the likelihood of their aircraft colliding with the passenger jet. Five out of the six unaccounted-for crew members from the coast guard aircraft following the crash were later located, as per news agency Reuters citing NHK.

The pilot was successfully evacuated, the report added.

Following the incident, Haneda shut down all runways, confirmed an airport spokesperson to news agency Reuters.

As for the aircraft that caught fire, an Airbus A-350 JAL flight 516 departing from Shin Chitose airport erupted into flames upon the runway at Tokyo's Haneda airport. It is reported to have been struck by another aircraft, potentially a Japan Coast Guard plane, after landing.

NHK footage depicted significant bursts of fire and smoke emanating from the Japan Airlines plane's side as it taxied on the runway. The aircraft was subsequently entirely engulfed in flames.

"All 367 passengers, eight toddlers, and 12 crew members on board the plane were safely evacuated," stated an airline spokesperson as reported by Bloomberg.